
Class Xi4i 
Book C ^9 



(aSEBUGHT DEPOSm 



On Mule Back 

Through Central America 



WITH THE 

GOSPEL 



A Thrilling Missionary Story 

Giving personal experiences on the mission field; of an 

unshaken confidence in the God who took the 

family to the field; supported them while 

there ; gave them many precious souls 

for their hire, and brought 

them back victorious. 



Copies of this book may be obtained from 

MATTIE CRAWFORD 

Missionary and Evangelist 
2026 Roosevelt Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. 



0)CU6S12S§ 



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Copyright, 1922, by 
MATTIE CRAWFORD 

(Published in the UnitedSiales of America) 
All Rights Reserved 



Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive 
in 2010 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



http://www.archive.org/details/onmulebackthrougOOcraw 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



Preface "* 

A Message Given to Me in Tongues with 

Interpretation ^^ 

Preparing to Start 1^ 

Home Leaving -'^^ 

The Church in Unity. (The Wonderful Vision) .... 34 

Opening the Way 38 

Bread Upon the Waters. (From Los Angeles 

to Nicaragua, C. A.) 50 

The Stars and Stripes and Beautiful Manzanilla ... 61 
Salina Cruz, Mexico. (My Vision Interpreted) .... 66 

The Virgin of the Angels 73 

Arriving in Our Port at Nicaragua 84 

Our Stay in Matagalpa 99 

Leaving Matagalpa for Leon 1 1- 

Our Arrival in Leon 140 

Leaving Nicaragua for Panama 185 

Sailing from Panama 192 

The Needs of Central Ameiica 202 

The Indians of Nicaragua. (Extract from 

Article by Brother Schoenich) 214 

"Where is the white man's Book of Heaven?" . . . .218 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 

Frontispiece. Mattie Crawford 11 

The Crawford Family 15 

Father N. J. Norris, who paid our way to the 

Mission Field 47 

S. S. Curacoa on which we sailed to the Mission 

Field 51 

On Board Ship , 55 

Carl on bridge of ship at sea 59 

Some natives of a tribe in Guatemala, C. A 63 

"Come over and help us" 67 

Taking their morning bath 71 

A native village 77 

Picturesque street scene of the Port of Corinto, 

where we landed 85 

Resting during the heat of the day 87 

Where they heard the Gospel for the first time ... 91 

An Indian hut where we preached the Gospel .... 95 

Indian girls grinding corn for tortillas 97 

Alma and her music class in Matagalpa 101 

Washday at the river for native women. Their 
only way to clean clothes is to rub them 

on a flat rock 103 

Leaving Matagalpa 107 

Alma and Carl among the banana trees 109 

Where we stopped for the night. Note the glare 

of the sun on the white sand 113 

Leaving in the early morning for a day's journey . . 115 

Alma and Carl feeding the pet deer 119 

On our way through the mountains 121 

Carl with his faithful pony 125 



lO 



") — 



ILLUSTRATIONS, Continued 

Bringing coffee down from the mountain plan- 
tations 127 

The onh' Jesus they know 131 

One of the first to accept the Gospel 13^ 

Carl and his father, as the>- distributed tracts to 

the Indians b>- the roadside 13 

Street scene in Leon 141 

Mother with child that was raised up from death . . 145 

Waiting" for the Gospel 149 

Carl with his bo\-s 153 

Where I preached until midnight, and the entire 

faniily was brought to the Lord 161 

Where the entire famih" was brought to Jesus, 
and the mother's hand was healed of blood 
poisoning 165 

\\'here Carl attended natixe school to stud\- 

Spanish 169 

Wcimen coming from the market place 173 

Alma with her music class in Leon 177 

Alma with lier English class of natixe girls 183 

Alma reading a Bible story to her girls 189 

An Indian woman who came to the meeting and 

was saved 193 

I am just a brown-faced Indian girl, but I want 
to learn to read God's \\'ord. Will you 
send missionaries to teach us? There are 
thousands just as I am 205 

One Indian who found Jesus and lo\es his Bible. . . 211 

An Indian woman whose attention was attracted 
and picture taken without her knowledge. 
Indians are ver>- superstitious and are 
afraid to haxe their pictures taken 219 



PREFACE 

The days of miraculous achievements are not past, as 
the accounts chronicled in this book will testify. Four 
people make a missionary trip from Los Angeles, Cal., 
down the coast of Mexico, preaching in many of her 
towns while the ship discharges or loads cargo. They 
arrive in Nicaragua and preach to the natives, seeing 
numbers of them baptized in the Holy Spirit. Return- 
ing to the States by way of the Panama Canal, and 
New Orleans, they reach St. Louis and Granite City, 
having been gone less than nine months. 

Without missionary board, or other promised support 
whatever, the Lord provided some $3,000.00 for the trip. 
It is a testimony to His faithfulness, a sample of what 
He can and will do for those who will put their trust in 
Him. Some might question the wisdom and value of 
the shortness of their stay, but they moved under Divine 
direction. If any possible critic had accompanied them 
in their journeyings, and seen the fire in the hearts of 
those native people there would hav^e been no doubt in 
their minds as to the exceeding profitableness of the 
journey in the advancement of the kingdom of God. 
Many remote and scattered people were reached. 
Praise God! They will be seen in Heaven because of 
the Gospel message which they heard. 

Then, too, this sketch of many happenings will, we 
trust, kindle a flame of missionary fire in many hearts, 
and give them a sense of the great need of these Central 
American republics, so that they, too, will have to go, 
pray, or give. Brother, Sister, have you not some 
responsibility toward sending the Gospel to those be- 
nighted people so long neglected? Let us not share in 
the great age-long crime of the church in her neglect of 
the heathen. Do not pass the time in mere happy 
dreams of spiritual blessings while the procession of 
your lost brethren of other nations tramps on into 
eternity with no Christ. Be not like drones, who eat 
the honey but do nothing for the advancement of the 
kingdom. 

Seely D. Kinne. 



Affectionately dedicated to my precious Master, the 
Lord, who made possible this service, and to my dear 
husband, son, and daughter, who were noble sharers in 
the battles and triumphs described. 

' Oh agony of wavering thought 
When sinners first so near are brought. 

It is my Maker — dare I stay? 

My Savior — dare I turn away? 
In the ripe harvest fields the day is cried, 

And reapers with their sickles bright 
Tioop, singing, down the mountain side. 



Through Central America 



15 




^ 



k^ 



A MESSAGE GIVEN TO ME IN TONGUES 

WITH INTERPRETATION, 

March 15, 1919 

It was on this message from the Lord 
that we went to the mission field by faith, 
without any earthly board behind us, know- 
ing that what God had promised He would 
perform. 

"The time has come when I will send thee forth. Arise! 
put away all doubt and say to the dark clouds, 'Depart 
from before my face!' and to all fear that may arise to 
stop you from following in the way that I shall lead thee, 
'Flee ye, far from me, to return no more! for the Lord 
my God hath spoken, and I shall not be dismayed nor 
put to shame!' 

"Begin this day to prepare to go forth, for I will send 
thee unto the land to which I have called thee, and 
every need shall be supplied. 

"Only be strong and of good courage, for My left 
hand is under thy head, and My right hand doth embrace 
thee. Thou shalt sit down under My shadow with great 
delight, and My fruit shall be sweet to thy taste. I will 
plant thee in a fruitful land, and thou shalt bring forth 
fruit in My name, some thirty, some sixty, and some an 
hundred fold. Do not fear to go forth in My name, for 
I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward. I Am 
that I Am hath spoken unto thee this day, and I AM 
THAT I AM will go before thee. 

"Thou shalt see of the travail of thy soul, and shall 
be satisfied, for thou shalt see many that sit in darkness 
and the shadow of death see the light of My glory, and 
come to praise My name. For from the rising of the sun 

OM-2 



IS Oil Miilc Back 

c^"on unio the goiiiii down of the same, ]\Iy name shall 
be great among all nations." 

"Would you like to know the sweetness 

Of the secret of the Lord? 
Go and hide bei\eath His shadow, 

This shall be \'Our sure reward. 
And when'er you leave the silence 

Of that happy meeting place, 
Vou must mind and bear the image 

Of the Master in vour face." 



PREPARING TO START 

After receiving the wonderful message in 
tongues, with its interpretation, telHng us the 
time had come for us to make ready to go to the 
mission field, we began packing our trunks, 
putting away the things which we would not 
need during the summer. We had been working 
in a hard field that winter, the income had been 
very small, and poor husband had worked as 
much as possible, to get the children clothes 
and books for school. But work was scarce and 
the battle had been long and hard, for we felt 
we must settle down again that the children 
might be in school, which matter the Lord had 
dealt with us about many times before. 

We were preparing to start as soon as the way 
was 'opened, when there came a letter from a 
brother asking if we Avould not come and have 
some meetings with them. We felt led to go, 
and on arriving found the revival spirit was in 
the air. The first night the place was packed, 
and the altar was filled with hungry people seek- 
ing the Lord. We were there three weeks, and 
they certainly were blessed weeks of victory, for 
many precious souls received the Baptism of the 
Holy Spirit and many were healed, and the 
Lord sent in money for some clothing, which we 
were all needing badly. 

After the meeting we returned for our trunks 
and to prepare for the trip across the country 
to California, for from there we were to sail for 
our field in Central America. 

The livelong night we've toiled in vain, 

But at Thy gracious word, 
I will let down the net again, 

To do Thy will, O Lord. 



HOME LEAVING 

Bidding our loved ones good-bye we left 
Granite City, Illinois, May 29th, 1919. We 
took train from St. Louis at 4 P. M., for Stanton, 
Missouri, where God had definitely led us to go. 

As the train sped out of the cit^- and over the 
long stretch of country beyond, I was meditat- 
ing over the many things that had happened at 
our farewell. My dear mother had said she did 
not understand this thing, and m^- brothers and 
sisters had spoken against our going out in such 
a foolish way, without money and without back- 
ing of an}' kind. They just knew that we would 
all starve and die in that far-off country-. None 
of them being Christians, they could not under- 
stand how the dear Lord could suppl}^ our every 
need. But the blessed Holy Spirit had spoken 
to my heart and said, "You have left all, broth- 
ers, sisters, father, mother, houses and lands for 
My sake, and the Gospel's, so I will give you 
brothers, sisters, fathers and mothers, houses 
and lands, wherever you go." 

As we rode on, we were praying that God 
Avould lead us every step of the way, and not let 
us miss His will in any thing we did or said. As 
I took some tracts from my hand bag to dis- 
tribute among the passengers I noticed a white- 
haired gentleman take a seat just across from 
us. The Spirit said to me, "That is one of your 
Pentecostal brothers. Ask him what 3'ou want 
to know about the place to which you are 
going." 



Through Central America 21 

We were not acquainted with any one at 
Stanton, and had been wishing that we could 
find out something about the place and the 
people before we arrived. I began distributing 
the tracts through the car, and when I came to 
this man he looked up and said, "Praise the 
Lord!" We had a blessed time from there en, 
talking of the work over the country, and 
learning of conditions at Stanton. 

Arriving at the station we bade our brother 
good-bye and got off the train. It was now 
quite dark, and raining, and our funds were 
down to twenty cents. We stopped under the 
shed of the depot long enough to pray for lead- 
ings from the Lord, for it was late, the agent had 
gone, the depot was closed and the brother had 
told us that he thought most of the saints lived 
out in the country. As we looked to our 
Heavenly Father to guide us He directed us to 
a store on the hill. The owner was just closing 
the door as we came up. My husband asked 
him if any of the mission people lived in the town 
and he said he did not know. As we passed 
down the street we heard some one say, "Well, 
'Praise the Lord!' Where did you come from?" 
It was dear brother Armstead. We had met 
him and his wife in some meetings in St. Louis, 
but did not know they lived in Stanton. Also 
others were there whom we knew, having met 
them in other places. We stayed about ten 
days and had blessed meetings. The b'essing 
of the Lord came down upon our souls, the dear 



22 On Mule Back 

little band of faithful saints were refreshed, and 
the altar was filled with those seeking the Lord. 

A remarkable incident occurred here. A 
woman across the street from where we were 
ha\ing the meetings became very much in- 
censed at us because she thought we prayed and 
sang too loud. She sent her children over to 
throw rocks and sticks at us, while she sat in 
her house and made light of the shouting. One 
night the power fell in a wonderful wa>' and the 
people were very happy. This woman was sit- 
ting barefoot in her bedroom reading the even- 
ing paper, and felt something cold touch her 
foot, but did not give it any attention at first. 
Feeling it again she looked down, and there was 
a very large snake coiled ready to strike her 
foot. She sprang away and screamed, then ran 
to the meeting crying for some one to come and 
kill the snake, as it had gotten on the bed where 
the baby was asleep. Some of the brothers went 
over, found the serpent on the bed, and killed it. 
After that the woman felt difterent toward us 
and our shouting and praising the Lord. We 
had been praying for her and the Lord had told 
us He would take care of it all. We find the 
Lord uses difterent means to bring people to 
Himself. 

From Stanton we went to Rolla, Missouri. 
We knew no one in Rolla, or an^'thing about 
the place, but the Lord had told us to go there, 
so we went. We just had money enough to get 
there. As we stepped oft' the train a brother 
threw his arms around mv husband and said, 



Through Central America 23 

"Well, Hallelujah! My wife told me to come 
and meet this train, for the Lord was sending 
some one on it to help us in the meetings we 
have just started, and here you are, just in 
time." They had opened a little work there 
and had been asking the Lord to send someone 
to help them, so He had sent us, bless His dear 
Name! He also sent the Holy Spirit, for we had 
a wonderful time. One of the hard fighters of 
Pentecost received the Baptism, and many 
others were blessed in their souls, and some were 
healed in their bodies. 

From RoUa we went to Springfield, Missouri, 
and stayed over Sunday with the dear saints 
there, having a refreshing time for our souls, and 
a rest for our bodies. From there we went to 
Everton, Missouri, where we had been led to 
hold some meetings. 

On arriving in this little town we found that 
the only building there was for the meetings had 
burned down the day before. We spent the 
day in a grocery store praying for a door to be 
opened for the Gospel, for we had been told it 
was a very wicked town and that the Pentecostal 
message had never been preached there. 

In the evening we went out to see about get- 
ting some rooms where w^e could stay while 
there. Going to a certain place we met the 
Presbyterian minister. When he found that 
we had come to have revival meetings he has- 
tened to open his church to us and insisted that 
we begin the services that night. He told us 



24 On Mule Back 

that he had been praying for a revival as 
they had not had a convert in that town for 
over thirty years, and that he hoped we could 
do something to stir the people up. He had not 
asked us what we were preaching, as many others 
do when we arrive in a new place. If he had 
known how we would stir up things in that dead 
town and that fine Presbyterian church I don't 
know whether he w^ould have been so quick to 
invite us in. 

He rang the church bell, we went in and began 
to sing and pray, and soon the crowd came. 
Such a hungry-looking lot of people they were, 
yet they looked like they were ready to run if 
something happened that they did not under- 
stand. As we prayed and testified the glory 
settled dowm over us. Each night the people 
moved up a little closer to the fire, and some 
dared to come up in the rostrum and help us 
sing. Once in a while we heard a faint Amen 
from the dear old pastor, and one night, after 
the Lord had met us in a very sweet and wonder- 
ful way, he came and said, "There is something 
so different about you people from what we 
have ever seen in others. Why," said he, "it is 
no trouble at all for you to pray and testify, 
and there is something about these meetings 
that fills my heart with joy, and I want you to 
pray that I will get this blessing that you have, 
for we need a great spiritual awakening here." 

I felt like jumping up and down and telling 
him we had the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and 
it was that which made us different from other 



Throngli Central America 25 

folks. O Hallelujah! But I knew we must 
use wisdom with them, so left it to the Lord to 
work out in His own way and time. 

The next night the power fell on Sister Hagg, 
and she went up and down the platform singing 
in the Spirit and speaking in tongues. We were 
wonderfully anointed and had a blessed meeting. 
The dear people had never seen anything like 
that before. They looked so hungry. 

The next morning the pastor and his wife 
came to our rooms and he said, "I want this 
blessed experience. Pray for me, and pray for 
my wife's healing." She was deaf. We had a 
sweet time praying together, the dear old pastor 
callmg on God to send the Holy Spirit into his 
life and into the church. 

The next day we had to move on to Kansas 
City. But I am sure there was a work done 
and seed sown in Everton that will bring forth 
fruit. The people came to bid us good-bye, 
saying they were so glad we had come and 
brought them the light of Pentecost. 

At the depot we were told the price of our 
tickets was $20. We found we were short of 
that amount by 14.20. We had only $14.80. 
We went aside and prayed, telling the Lord He 
had told us to go to Kansas City, Missouri, and 
now the train was arriving and we did not have 
sufficient money. The Lord said, "Go to the 
window and call for the tickets." We obeyed, 
knowing the Lord was able to send money right 
straight from Heaven. As husband received the 
tickets through the window, the agent said, 



26 On Mule Back 

''$14.80." We were soon on the train speeding 
on our way. We do not know just how it came 
about, but we know God did it. Hallelujah ! 
He makes a way where there is no way, if we 
beheve. 

It was after dark when we arrived in Kansas 
City. We prayed and asked the Lord just 
where He w^anted us to go as we did not know 
anyone there. He directed us straight up a 
street. We walked several blocks, not knowing 
where there were any missions. We saw a nice 
little brick church on a corner, but no sign to 
tell about meetings, and the doors were closed. 
As we stood there praying, the Lord told me to 
open the door and go in. 

As we pushed on the door it opened into a ves- 
tibule. From there some steps led into the audi- 
torium through another door. We heard some 
one saying, "Praise the Lord!" and knew they 
must be Pentecostal people. A brother came with 
outstretched hands to greet us, asking, "Where 
did you come from?" It was dear Brother 
Huff from Chicago, who w^as in charge of the 
mission. We had a blessed time together prais- 
ing God and seeing souls brought in and bap- 
tized in the Spirit. We were also blessed wath 
Brother Scott in the mission in Kansas City, 
Kansas, and with his saints. 

We then went on to Topeka, Kansas, by the 
direction of the Lord. We never went anywhere 
until we had prayed and received instructions 
from the Lord. Most of the time He spoke 
through my lips the name of the next place, 



Through Central America 27 

even telling us when to go, and what train to 
take. Oh, the blessedness of the sweet Holy 
Spirit flowing in and upon our souls till we are 
lost in Him. 

''He leadeth me, oh, blessed thought." 

We arrived in Topeka, knowing nothing of 
the missions there or how to find them. As we 
were walking down a street the Lord said, "Ask 
that boy where the mission is." He was the 
son of one of the saints, and lived near the 
mission. We were at that mission two weeks 
and had a precious time. 

The Lord provided for us to travel to Colo- 
rado Springs with Sister Bowers in her car. 
Many were the times and ways God showed His 
mighty arm out-stretched toward us. We started 
with very little money to buy food and gasoline, 
or to pay for repairs for the car. But He pro- 
vided for all. 

One morning as we were crossing a bridge, 
some drunken men ran their car into ours, 
throwing it over the edge of the bridge which 
had no rail, the bridge being a new one and 
not completed. Our machine hung out over the 
water fifty feet below. But as we went over 
the edge the power came upon us all, and we 
began speaking in tongues. The glory of God 
came down like a great white cloud, and the 
machine w^as picked up and set in the middle of 
the bridge without a scratch on us or on it. 

Another time when we came into a town we 
were told that the road ahead was impassable; 



28 On Mule Back 

that t\veiu\- cars had been ptilled out of the 
place Avhere the water coA^ered the road for 
about a mile. We asked the Lord if we should go 
on or not. He said we should go on. and if we 
belie\"ed we shotdd see the glory of God. As we 
approached the water, which came up to the 
doors of the machine, and with great ditches 
on either side, hlled with water, we coidd not 
see where the road was. nor where the ditches 
were. The power came down over the machine. 
and we all began to sing in tongues. Sister 
Bowers' hands went up in the air. and never 
touched the wheel till we were o\"er the place, 
about a mile in length. The mtid and water 
did not e\en splash the wind shield or machine 
anywhere. 

"We ^yill rejoice in Thy salvation, and in 
the name of God we will set up our banners. 
The Lord fulfil all thv petitions." — Psalm 
20:5. 

We stopped at several places on the way and 
held meetings. We also gave out tracts and 
papers, hlling the rural mail boxes along the 
highways with gospel literature. Each morning 
we cooked our breakfast and had our morning 
worship by the roadside, then went on our Avay 
praising God for all His goodness in permitting 
us to preach His glorious gospel. 

One night when we were sleeping out on the 
open prairie — as we were too heavily loaded 
to carr>- a tent — there came up a terrible storm. 
The wind blew at a territic gale and the thunder 



Through Central Am'crica 29 

and lightning were awful. We were fast asleep 
when a large coyote came near and began his 
loud barking, evidently sent by the Lord to 
awaken us just in time to see our clothes and 
hats sweeping across the plain before the fierce 
wind. We ran after them, and prayed the Lord 
to stop the storm, telling Him He had promised 
us that it should not rain on us. Then the wind 
stopped, also the thunder and lightning, and we 
had nice dry weather the rest of the way. 

Arriving in Colorado Springs, we were wel- 
comed by the dear pastor and people. They 
had a nice assembly, and the Lord sweetly 
worked the few days we were there. 

Some people from the plains came asking us 
to come and hold meetings for them in a school- 
house. They had nevei heard Pentecost 
preached, excepting one woman who had read 
some about it and was hungry for the Baptism. 
We found the whole country Free Methodist, 
and they said they had the Holy Spirit. 

We had meetings every night for about a week, 
everybody sitting back and looking on. On 
Sunday we were invited to the home of some of 
the leading people for dinner. After we had 
eaten, someone went to the piano and began 
playing a hymn, and we started to sing. Soon 
we heard a terrible noise. Looking around we 
saw the man of the house laid out in the middle 
of the floor, shaking from head to foot under the 
power of God. In fact his feet were up in the air 
and his whole body was shaking violently. Llis 
wife and the people were running out after water 



30 On Mule Back 

to throw on him. But we told them it was the 
power of God, and they must leave him alone. 
They declared he had a spell with his heart and 
was dying, but w^e kept on singing and holding 
on in pra3^er till he came through. 

The news spread all over the country, and 
that night all the rigs and autos for many miles 
around were there bringmg the people to see the 
strange sights. While we were singing, the 
daughter of this same man arose, came to the 
altar and fell under the power. The fire spread 
over the house, God working in a wondrous way. 
Some said it was the power of God, others said 
we were hypnotizing the people, and that was 
what made them fall. The whole country was 
stirred, and many heard the last-day message 
of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to prepare 
the people for the coming of the Lord. We 
still receive letters from these people. They 
are holding on to God, and He is blessing them. 

We also visited with dear Brother and Sister 
Roper and their sister Stout, at Immanuel Faith 
Home, in Pueblo. This is a school for orphan 
children, and a faith home where saints and 
missionaries can come and rest for a while. We 
were there for a week, and those were days of 
great blessing and refreshings from the Lord. 
These dear saints have opened that wonderful 
work in faith, looking to God to supply every 
need, and surely He has done according to His 
promise. The way we saw God work there in 
answering prayer was far beyond anything we 
had ever witnessed before, and the way the dear 



Through Central America 31 

little children were taught to pray and trust 
God for their needs was blessed. 

From there we went in the machine to Denver, 
where we spent two weeks at the camp-meeting. 
How the blessing of the Lord did come down on 
our souls! We were greatly refreshed and our 
faith was quickened. The latter was needed, for 
we were going to the mission field by faith, 
looking to the Lord alone to supply every need. 

The camp-meeting was coming to a close and 
the tents were being taken down, but we did not 
know where we were to go next. As I was pack- 
ing the suit-cases, and getting ready to leave, the 
Lord said to me, "Arrange your clothes, for you 
will go to Los Angeles in a few days." 

Offerings had been small and expenses heavy, 
so we had but little money, therefore we did not 
see how we could get to Los Angeles. But 
never mind. "The natural man receiveth not 
the things of God." Don't reason, but believe. 
As I walked out by the lake, and saw the pretty 
little fish so at home in the beautiful water, 
without a care, for God took care of them. He 
spoke to my heart, and said, "Not a worry, for 
as I made this beautiful crystal lake for the 
fish, so I have made a great and beautiful way 
for My children. And just as the fish swim 
through the water and drink it, so My little 
children shall live and move in Me." "For in 
Him we live and move and have our being." 

Just then three women came up in a machine 
and stopped near where I was. All were 



32 On Mule Back 

strangers to me, but the Spirit said, "Join your- 
self to them." I went over and spoke to them, 
asking if they were Christians. They said they 
were, and were wanting to see me. They had 
heard me speak the night before, and wanted to 
see more of me. When I bade them good-bye 
one of them went with me to my tent. She 
said she had some of the Lord's money for me, 
but did not know how to find me, as the camp 
was breaking up and everyone was going away, 
but she had been directed back to the camp- 
ground. "Give me your address on the mission 
field, ' she said, "as I am to help support you 
there." Besides what she gave me at the camp- 
meeting, she was one of our main supports on 
the field, sending her offerings in no small sums. 
We then went to Colorado Springs with a 
brother in his auto. All the way the Lord kept 
saying to me, "You will leave for Los Angeles 
soon after arriving at the Springs." As we 
must have $100.00 more for our tickets, we did 
not know how it was going to work out. When 
we went to the post ofihce we received a letter 
from a brother in Kansas with a check for 
$100.00. In the letter he said, "I supposed you 
were in California, but as I was writing this 
check I was led to send it to Colorado Springs. 
Hope you receive it o. k." So here was the rest 
of our fare. Just as God had said, we were to 
go to California. He had the money right on 
hand, bless His name! After buying our tickets 
and a little lunch, we had $3 left. We praised 
the Lord we were on our way to the mission 



Through Central America 2>?> 

field, to tell the heathen of this wonderful sal- 
vation. 

As the train pulled out ot the station, a little 
sister who had been very kind to us threw $4 in 
at the window. 



OM-3 



THE CHURCH IN UNITY 

The Wonderful Vision 

We passed through Ro^al Gorge, and over 
the mountains, reaching the highest point just 
as the sun was sinking behind the western hills. 

They call it "The Top of the World." There 
is a post office there where tourists mail folders 
and cards to all parts of the country-, describing 
the beautiful scenery. Here is the Arkansas 
River, dividing at an elevation of 10,000 feet, 
running two ways, growing wdder and wider as it 
flows down the mountain beside the railroad. 
I sat looking out the window at the stream Avhich 
waters the fields all along the sides of the moun- 
tains and in the valleys. The water is conducted 
through great flumes running in all directions, 
even carrying the water up hill in some places. 

The scene faded before my e^'es, and in its 
place I saw a great desert, O, so big and barren! 
There was nothing but bits of thorny cactus 
growing here and there. The sand was dry 
and parched. Far out in the middle of the 
desert there was an old house. It was only a 
shack. The roof boards were so old and 
w^eathei beaten they were curling up at the ends. 
The sides were beginning to fall away from the 
roof. The door was small and falling off the 
hinges. There seemed not one ray of hope for 
the little old shack so far away in the desert. 
The winds of many centuries had beaten upon 
its sides. It was readv to fall. 



Through Central America 35 

As I looked far awa\' on c\or\' side 1 saw 
nothing but hot dry sand. Over the sand came 
a man. He was weary, and the hot sun beat 
fiercely upon his bare head. As he came nearer 
I saw he was reading a Bible. He was so inter- 
ested in it that he looked not ro the right or left. 
His face was right down in the Book. Behind 
him came another, and still another, until there 
was a great company- of people, thousands of 
them, bath men and women. All had then- 
faces buried in the Bible. The\' were entering 
the little old shack, passing in one by one. I 
wondered at so many people being able to get 
into so small a house. But soon I discovered 
that the house was enlarging. The door be- 
came -new and swung upright on ncAv hinges. 

As far as I could see across the plain people 
were coming. Each one's face was down in the 
Word of God. They were all mo\'ing toward 
and into the house, now no longer a dilapidated 
shack but becoming a great strong building. 
The roof was now of new material, of such a 
bright red color that nn- eyes could not look upon 
it. The sides had become new. From the door 
clear water was beginning to flow. I could see 
the sands of the desert carried before it as it 
went down and out of the building. Then the 
water burst forth from all sides of the house, 
till all but the roof was clear, crystal water. 

The water spread over the desert, until it had 
become a mighty river co\'ering the whole 
country, and people of every nation came run- 
ning to it. The great house in the center was 



36 On Mule Back 

of such beauty that my eyes could not look upon 
it. The people began to come out of the house, 
but they were not the same as when they went 
into it. They were now large men and women, 
as tall as telephone poles. Their countenances 
were shining with the glory of God. In their 
hands were large nets. These they cast into the 
stream, in which there were many fish, for as the 
people of all nations ran and fell into the water 
they became fish. I could see their tails as they 
swam about. Each net was brought up full of 
fine, large fish. 

Over the top of the building was written in 
letters of fire, 'THE CHURCH IN UNITY." 
As the vision disappeared, I realized I was still 
on the train. Having my Bible in my hand I 
opened to this Scripture, "DECLARE HIS 
GLORY AMONG THE HEATHEN, HIS 
MARVELLOUS WORKS AMONG ALL 
NATIONS." I Chron. 16:24. 

Then the Lord showed me that when His 
people receive, through the Holy Spirit, the 
revelation of the Word, they will come together 
in unity; not merely be brought together by 
some creed or doctrine, but by the revelation of 
the scriptures, as they are made Spirit and life. 
This will cause the dilapidated building, which 
represents the church out in the desert of un- 
belief and false doctrine, to become new, strong 
and great, with the waters of the Spirit flowing 
out to all nations. And just as the Arkansas 
River, rising at the mountain summit, divided 
and ran both ways, watering the fields on either 



Through Central America 37 

side of the mountain, so as the church reaches 
the mountain summit of God's love and revel- 
ation of the scriptures, the waters of salvation 
will flow both ways, to fthe home and also to 
the foreign field, and there will be a Heaven- 
taught and Spirit-trained ministry of apostles, 
prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, for 
the perfecting of the saints, and for the evan- 
gelization of the heathen. 



OPENING THE WAY. 

. Arriving in Salt Lake City at noon the next 
day, we were told the train we should take for 
Los Angeles did not carry chair cars, so we 
would have to wait for a train that left at mid- 
night. We were very tired from our long train 
ride and went aside in the station to rest. I lay 
down on a couch in the ladies' rest room, but 
just as I had settled down for rest the Lord said 
to me, "Go and buy your berth on this train, 
for it will be the last train through." I did not 
know what it meant, but I did not doubt the 
voice of God that had spoken to me so many 
times in the fifteen years I have been saved. 

I went to my husband and told him, and 
together we went to the Pullman ticket ofhce. 
The agent said, 'T have not a berth left. The 
train is full and leaves in fifteen minutes." I 
told him the Lord had said we were to go on 
that train, and there must be a place somewhere 
for us. He said he knew he had not a berth left. 
I said we must have two upper berths, as we 
did not have sufficient money for lower berths. 
The $4 given by the little sister in Colorado 
Springs as our train was leaving and the $3.00 
we had was aU we had for the berths. Just 
then a man stepped up and said there were two 
upper berths left, as some people had decided 
not to go on that train. "Well," said the agent, 
"I guess they are for you, but you will have to 



Through Central America 39 

hurry, as the train is ready to go." Entering 
the coach we found the two berths were together. 
How the Lord does plan for His children, open- 
ing doors which no man can shut. Hallelujah! 

As we neared the California border the strike 
came on that paralyzed all street-car and train 
service for ten days. Three times the men 
were about to leave our train out on the desert. 
But we prayed, and God took the train through 
to Los Angeles. Other trains that started were 
forsaken by the trainmen and hundreds of people 
were left in the desert without food or water. 
Relief was sent to them by auto trucks, and they 
came through in that way. But God spoke to 
us, and we obeyed, and went on the last train 
that got through for over ten days. 

How God does care for His own! We were 
going out as missionaries and He wanted to 
teach us lessons of faith. That is why He took 
us along with just enough money for one trip at 
a time. Many times we were without money or 
had but little. Then, He would tell us not to 
look at our little means, but to look to Him, 
with Heaven's great storehouse full for all who 
would believe. "The just shall live by faith." 
The new creature in Christ Jesus becomes heir 
to ALL His riches in glory. *'0 the depth of 
the riches both of the wisdom and knowl- 
edge of God! how unsearchable are His 
judgments, and His ways past finding 
out!" Rom. 11:33. 

We arrived in Los Angeles with seventy-five 
cents. The taxi man asked S4 to take us to 



40 On Mule Back 

the camp -grounds, and no street cars were 
running. We asked Father how we were to get 
out there. It was too far to walk. I was 
directed to a little lunch-counter across the 
street, to ask the man about a machine standing 
in front of his place. He told me he would 
take us out there, as he was carrying passen- 
gers since the strike was on. We asked him 
the fare and he said, "Seventy-five cents." We 
laughed, for Father knew just how much we 
had, and would not let him ask more. 

We reached the camp-grounds about nine 
o'clock. The Evangelist was preaching on faith, 
and how w^e should trust God. She stretched 
out her arm toward us and said, in a loud 
voice, *'The just shall live by faith." This 
was a familiar text to us, as it had been our 
motto for some three months, or more, but it is 
always new. 

Brother Fisher came and said, "We have a 
tent up and ready for you, but we have made no 
arrangements for meals for you, as everybody 
makes their own arrangements for those." We 
praised God for the tent and knew He would 
take care ot the rest, for He had sent us there, 
so He would provide. 

We were invited home with some friends that 
night, but returned to the camp to stay the next 
morning. Noon came. Everybody was going 
out to the stand to get lunch. We had to pray. 
So we went into our little tent, knelt down and 
told our Heavenly Father about our needs. He 



Through Central America 41 

says He knows our needs before we ask Him, 
but we receive by asking. It is so sweet to tell 
Him about every little need. We had spoken 
to no one else about them, as that would not be 
faith. We went across the grounds to the big 
tent. A sister came, put her arms around me, 
and said, "Sister, are you a missionary?" I 
told her we were just going out for the first 
time. She said the Lord had laid it on her 
heart to open a dining tent for the missionaries 
on the camp-ground, and she wanted to invite 
me and my little family to eat with them. I 
need not say that dining tent was one of the 
sweetest places I have ever seen. We would 
gather there and sing and praise God and eat 
the food He had provided. It was Heaven on 
earth. I am sure dear Sister Craton and her 
sister, who worked so faithfully, will receive 
abundant reward when Jesus comes. 

The meeting was wonderful. The Word was 
preached under the mighty anointing every 
afternoon and night. Hundreds were brought 
in and baptized in the Holy Spirit, and many 
were healed. One day they carried in a Jew. 
He was an invalid, had been sick for many 
years and did not believe the Bible or in God. 
We gathered around him and prayed. A great 
ball of fire came down through the tent, struck 
that man on the head, knocked him out of his 
chair and on to his feet, and almost knocked 
down all who were praying with him. He was 
healed and baptized in the Holy Spirit, and ran 
over the grounds leaping and praising God. 



42 On Mule Back 

Many things God did there that strengthened 
our faith and prepared us for the hfe of faith on 
the mission field. 

After the camp-meeting we rented a httle 
apartment where we might Hve and make ready 
for our trip, for there was sewing to be done and 
things to be made ready. We w^ere expecting to 
sail about the first of October. But one day, 
as we were praying about when we should sail, 
the Lord said, "You will sail about the first ot 
the year." We thought that was a long time 
off, and did not understand why we w^ere to 
wait so long. Going to the steamship ofiice we 
learned that the port of Corinto, where we were to 
land, was under quarantine for yellow fever, and 
had been for several months, but the ban would 
be lifted about the first of the year, and it was. 

They were precious months that follow^ed. 
Everything that we needed had to be prayed in 
— trunks, suitcases, clothing, ever^'thing came 
in answ^er to prayer. 

While in San Francisco I was very busy in 
meetings and had many letters to write. Sister 
Kerr said, "Ask the Lord to give you a type- 
WTiter to take with you." "Oh," I said, "I could 
never have faith for a typewTiter, as I could get 
along without that, and need so many other 
things." While I w^as praying in my room the 
Lord said to me, "You can have faith for a 
typewriter. Ask for one, and you shall have it." 
I said, "Lord, I do not know how to use a type- 
writer." He told me that when I went back to 
Los Angeles I could go to night school and 



ThrougJi Central America 43 

learn to use a typewriter, and then He would 
give me one. This I did, and soon learned how 
to typewrite. Then I received a letter from a 
brother enclosing a check for $50, saying it was 
for a Corona typewriter to take to the mission 
field. I had never seen the brother and do not 
know how he knew of me, but God knows. I 
almost ran to the Corona office to get my type- 
writer, and with it I am writing this book. 

"I love the Lord, because He hath heard 
my voice and my supplications. Because 
He hath inclined His ear unto me, there- 
fore will I call upon Him as long as I live." 
—Psalm 116:1,2. 

While in Oakland dear sister Rawlins told me 
the Lord had spoken to her to take her new Singer 
sewing machine, go home with me to Los Angeles 
and do up all my sewing. Here again was the 
dear loving hand of my Heavenly Father. He 
said He would give me mothers and brothers and 
sisters. This dear sister was truly a mother to 
me. She came with me, did up the sewing, 
and, as we were packing ready to leave for the 
mission field, and she to return to Oakland, she 
gave me the machine to take with me. How 
sweet that God has so many precious children 
who are ready to lay down their lives for the 
Gospel. We may not all be called to go, but 
we all can do our part. God bless every one 
who has given so freely and made it possible 
for the missionaries to go. As I think of the 
many things and the money that have been 
given by the dear children of God, it makes me 



44 On Mule Back 

tear I may not prove true and use it all to His 
glory. But there is a cry in my soul that the 
Lord will help me to be faithful, and render unto 
the Lord for all His benefits unto me. Psalm 
116:12. 

Everything was provided for the trip. New 
trunks were sent up to the house. Two nice 
handbags were given. One woman gave my 
daughter and me beautiful riding suits made 
to order. A certain book I had long been want- 
ing to read, and had not been able to get, was 
brought and laid on our table when I was out. 
Many little tokens of love were brought by the 
saints — nice useful things. 

But there was one thing lacking, a most im- 
portant one. That was our fare. The Lord had 
miraculously interfered and gotten us our pass- 
ports, and everything was packed and ready, 
but no money for the fare, which was near 
S700.00, including excess baggage. One morn- 
ing, while praying in my room, the Lord said, 
"Go to the steamship office and make 
your reservations." "But, Lord, I haven't 
the money to pay down." He said, "Get ready; 
I will send the money." By the time I was 
dressed and ready, a friend entered the room and 
gave me |15. Well, why hadn't the Lord sent 
all that was needed for the fare? Never mind; 
He had another lesson of faith to teach us. I 
went to the office and found out about the steam- 
ers. One sailed January 12th. The Lord said, 
"Take that one." Different faithful friends 
asked, "When does the steamer sail?" We told 



Through Central America 45 

them. "And you haven't your fare yet?" "No, 
we haven't the fare yet, but it is coming." They 
said they did not believe we were to sail so soon 
or God would have sent the fare. But we knew 
God had spoken and we believed. 

One afternoon a woman came with a message 
which she claimed was from God. Some of them 
had been praying about our going, and had re- 
ceived a message that we were not to go yet. 
Instead we were to go to a certain place and 
open a work. For that reason God had 
not sent us our fare. I replied, "I can't believe 
that, for God has spoken to me many times, and 
this message is the same that came through my 
lips in San Francisco, when He told me that we 
were to sail about the first of the year." At 
that time, as already related, we found the port 
was under quarantine that would be lifted about 
the first of the year. Later we found it had been 
lifted, and the Lord had told us we were to sail 
on the steamer that went on Jan. 12. 

We kept in sweet communion with the Lord, 
and every time these friends came with a mes- 
sage. He whispered to us to be still and know He 
was God; and we should see His salvation. 
Time went by. Only a week more before sailing, 
and we must have our tickets in three days in 
order to have our baggage attended to, still 
there was no money in sight. We kept praising 
the Lord that He had spoken, and it would come 
to pass. A dear saint, we thought much of, 
came in. She asked if we had our fare. We 
said we had not. She said, "Surely there is 



46 On Mule Back 

something wrong. God does not want you to 
go now." But we quietly praised God. He 
had spoken, and it was so. Like Pau^, we 
thanked God and took courage, when it 
seemed that everything was against us on every 
side, and the darkest hour was there. Then 
came dear Brother Norris from San Bernardino, 
Cahfornia. He said the Lord had sent him to 
pay our fares. So he went down and paid for 
our tickets and excess baggage. 

Why did we have this test? It was just one 
more lesson tor us to learn. We must come to 
the place where we know the voice of the Lord 
and there must be no mistake about it. He 
wants us to know beyond the shadow of a doubt. 
We are in dark days and there are many spirits 
to deceive. We must know the voice of God, 
and then, no matter how impossible it may 
seem, follow His voice. 

Many were the tests and trials we passed 
through, but glorious was the victory He gave 
in the end. 



Through Central America 



A7 




Father N. J. Norris, who paid our way to the Mission field 



Through Central America 49 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want; 

He leadeth me out of the dry and thirsty land, 
He bringeth me forth in pastures of green — 

My eyes may not see all the ways He has planned, 
Far out with Him in the way of faith, unseen. 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. 
Over the way of thorns and rocks I may go, 

But He is the one who taketh me through; 

Through the thick darkness of doubt and woe. 

But out from the clouds of darkness falls Heaven's 
sweet dew. 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. 

So lead me on by Thy Spirit, O God, 
Take me into Thyself so dear; 

Leave me not, though I pass under Thy rod. 
Breathing the breath of fragrant air, leaving behind 
all fear. 

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. 
Out to the mission field, alone with Him; 

To tell the poor heathen that Jesus has died; 
Breaking the bread to one and all. 

Telling them His death redeemed from the fall. 



OM-4 



BREAD UPON THE WATERS 
From Los Angeles to Nicaragua, C. A. 

We sailed from Los Angeles, on the S. S. 
Curacao, January 12th, 1920. After five days 
we arrived at the port of Matzalan, Mexico. 
The first sight of the city was the large cathedral 
on the hill. Our boat came to anchor, and as 
it was to sta}' a whole da>', we took a launch and 
went ashore. 

The city was very beautiful, nestling in the 
valle>', surrounded b\- mountains and sea. The 
beach Avas thronged with bathers. The streets 
and courts were lined with tropical flowers, 
palm and cocoanut trees. The sun was so warm 
that we were soon persuaded to remove our 
coats and sweaters, and we stepped into a hotel 
court to rest. 

We noticed one beggar after another coming 
in and asking alms. Going out into the streets 
again we noticed they seemed to be filled with 
poor, ragged, barefoot people begging. On in- 
quiry we were told this was "Beggars' Day," 
when the poor came out and receiA-ed help. 

As we sat in the plaza and saw all the sin and 
wickedness around us, we were reminded of 
Paul's experience at Athens. His spirit was 
stirred when he saw the city wholh* given to 
idolatry, and found the altar with the inscrip- 
tion, "To the unknown God." Truly our spirits 
were stirred when we saw the high spires on the 
cathedral, and the altar within, and realized 



Through Central America 



51 



1 






Through Central America 53 

that God was not known to the people. The 
many beggars were a striking picture of the 
great need of the whole city. The beggars' 
dirty rags told of their need of the robes of 
righteousness. Their bare feet showed the need of 
being shod with the preparation of the Gospel of 
Peace, for truly they had no peace. Many of 
them were blind, and surely they were blind to 
the truth. Beggars would come and touch us, 
and ask alms. Like Peter and John, silver and 
gold we did not have, but we could tell them of 
Jesus, and we did so. But they were so blind 
and deaf they did not seem to know what we 
were talking about. 

We were taken by a gentleman in a carriage 
to see. the places of interest in the city, which 
were many. Then we returned to the ship, but 
found it would not be ready to sail for some time 
yet. We seated ourselves on the deck and 
watched the many boats and launches that 
covered the waters. The wind was strong and 
the waves ran high. We saw a small row-boat 
with two men in it, rowing hard for the shore. 
It made me think of the great mass of people 
here who were being tossed by the waves of sin. 

* 'Captain, Lower the Gang-Piank 
for I am Coming." 

Then the Spirit gave me a picture of the sin- 
ner as the small boat tossed to and fro by the 
high waves of sin. The large steamer, with all 
her passengers, very peaceful, and with no toil- 
ing to keep afloat, represented the children of 



54 On Mule Back 

God with all His cargo of love and grace in their 
souls. Thoy did not ha\e to Avork to keep 
s;ived, but He saved them and rhe>- were at 
home on the waters of His lo\ o. 1 seemed to 
hear the Lord say that as the \\arers of this 
might\- ocean could come in on that little lx)at, 
and sink it Ixnieath its wa\-es. never again to be 
found, even so His great love for the sinner could 
come in on his frail bark of sin, swallow it up, 
and sink it in the sea of forgetfulness. never 
ag-ain to W found. 

Darkness Wgan to settle o\er the waters. 
The whistle had blown, the g^ang plank been 
pulled in. and the vessel was slowly mo^■ing away. 
Suddenh^ we heard a cry coming oAcr the waves, 
"Captain, lower the gang plank, for I am 
coming." lu the dim exeuing light we could 
see a man standing in the launch that was com- 
ing as fast as it could. Again the cr> came. 
"Captain, lower the gang plank, for I am 
coining," Ir was our freight clerk, who had 
been ashore, drinking and indulging in sin, until 
he had almost missed his opjx^rtunit>- to get on 
board. But at the captain's command they 
lowered the gxmg plank, the clerk jiunped on it 
and came on board. 

To me this taught a lesson. The big ship 
Sahation has pulled into the harbor of the 
needy, the needy one comes in his little row- 
Ix^at of trouble and cries for help, and the g^mg 
plank, the Gospel of love, is let dowTi to him. and 
he jumps on and is saved. So. as we go among 
these need>" people, in their little old row-boats 



Throii^^Ii Central .hncrica 



DD 




On Board Ship 



Through Central America 57 

toiling on the angry waters of sin, we hope to 
see the dear old Gospel ship of Zion pull into 
many a harbor, and lower the gang plank of 
love and mercy, and see people jumping on and 
coming aboard for the glory-land. For truly, 
Jesus is coming soon, and what we do we must 
do quickly, ere they perish. 

At another port we had to wait a day for the 
unloading of cargo. Many natives came to the 
ship to sell birds and different things, and we had 
a wonderful opportunity to give out the Word of 
God to them. How eager they were to hear of 
the love of God to save them. One old man 
came up out of his little boat and said. ''Are 
there many people in your country who know 
about this great God, and how He sent His Son 
to die for us?" We told him there were many 
who knew about it. Then he said, "Why don't 
they come and tell us about it and help us to 
find Him." We were speechless, for we knew 
there were few who would leave all to tell them 
of Jesus and His power to save. 

"I'll Be Waiting for You When Your 

Ship Returns." 

Several little boys came on board from the 
many boats and lighters, and played with Carl. 
He brought out his little train, that ran on a 
track. They had never seen anything like that 
before, so they spent the day with him. We gave 
each one tracts and a Testament to carry home. 
How their little dark faces did shine with delight 
when we told them of the love of Jesus for every 



58 On Mule Back 

one of them, and how God had sent us to tell 
the people to get ready, for He was soon coming 
back to earth. One little fellow was very much 
interested, asking many questions about the 
Bible and the tracts we had given him. 

Just then the bell rang, and orders were given 
for every visitor to get off, for the ship was ready 
to go. As this dear little fellow took Carl's hand 
and shook it he said, "I will be waiting for 
you when you come back. I will wait every 
day till I see this ship return, and then you 
can tell me more about Jesus and how to 
find this peace you have." 

He rowed away in a small boat, and, as far as 
we could see, we saw his little hand waving, and 
heard him saying, "I will be waiting for you 
when you come back." 

How we wept, for we knew we would not come 
that wa}' again, and realized that the little 
fellow might never again hear the Gospel. Shall 
we fail to go to them with the bread of life? 



Through Central America 59 




Carl on bridge of ship at sea 



THE STARS AND STRIPES AND 
BEAUTIFUL MANZANILLA 

Wc reached Manzanilla on January 19th. 
PiiUing- ourselves up on the dock out of the httle 
boat that brought us ashore, and walking a 
short distance, we came to the street on the 
water front. 1 1 w a s fi 1 1 e d with [) e o p 1 e 
who had gathered to see the ship come in. With 
eager faces they watched the unloading of the 
cargo. We thought if only the many launches and 
boats that had gone to the ship for passengers 
and cargo could bring messengers and messages 
to this hungry people's souls, what a blessed 
thing.it would be! 

We walked through the little city. The streets 
were filled with barefoot men, women, and 
children, many of whose clothes were ragged and 
dirty. Many pigs and sick dogs were roaming 
about eagerly hunting food, which appeared to 
be scarce. Our hearts were touched. As we 
looked up to Heaven there came a cry from my 
soul for the deliverance of these people. 

Our attention was attracted by the ringing of 
a bell away up the mountain side. There we 
saw a small white Temple. The people began 
to swarm up there, answering the call of the bell. 
We went up with them. As we stepped inside 
the great iron gate that is kept closed at all 
other times, but was now opened for the people 
to enter, we saw the poor barefoot, ragged 
creatures enter, and kneeling down, make the 



62 On Mule Back 

sign of the cross and Avorship the tall image 
before them, then rise to their feet and pass 
out. 

The floor of the temple was dirty, and the 
seats covered "\A-ith dust. We were made to 
think of the Scripture in Isaiah 1 :6. 

"From the sole of the foot even unto 
the head there is no soundness in it: but 
Avounds. and bruises, and putrifying sores: 
they have not been closed, neither botmd 
tip. neither mollified with ointment. Your 
country is desolate." 

Surely the whole countr\" is devoid of the 
power and glor\- of the God who made them 
in His own image. 

As we stoc<l there in the gate of the temple. 
we saw, high up on the mountain, the American 
flag waving in the ocean breezes. The flag was 
on the home of the American consul. It seemed 
to speak of freedom for that poor suffering 
people. 

Oh that God's children, who have been 
touched by Di\^ne power and filled with God's 
love, would go in upon the wrings of faith and 
prayer, lift the blood-stained banner of Jesus, 
and wave it o'er this desolate land rill it re- 
sounds with the falling of the Latter Rain, which 
is able to make it bud and bloom and bring 
forth fruit unto eternal life! 

Upon returning to our ship the burden was 
so heavy on me that I fell on my knees and cried 
to God to save these people. Then the Lord ^aid. 



Through Central America 



63 




Through Central America 65 

"What thou seest, write in a book, and 
send it unto the churches." — Rev. 1:11, 19. 

We saw men with bands around their heads 
holding great packs on their necks. They were 
carrying loads from the boats which were bring- 
ing the ship's cargo to shore. Truly they were 
pictures of the spiritual bondage of the people 
staggering under their burdens of sin, and with 
the yoke of the devil on their necks. 

O, my Lord, in travail of soul I cry. 

That Thou wilt hear and answer from the sky, 

And send Thy Holy Spirit down in power; 
O let it fall, my Lord, in a mighty shower. 

O save this people from the tempter's snare, 
Let them in Thy heavenly glory share — 

Save them, O Lord, from sin and shame. 

That they may know the power of Jesus' name. 



OM-5 



SALINA CRUZ, MEXICO. 

My Vision Interpreted 

Here God gave me the interpretation of the 
vision which I had when I was saved, fifteen 
years before. From under the altar where I 
was kneeUng I saw a great white cloud boiling 
out, full of upstretched black hands. 

We were in Mexican waters and there was 
some trouble at this port. We expected to stay 
there about two days. Everyone was cautioned 
to be careful not to do or say anything that 
would stir up trouble. As we had been giving 
out t'acts and Bibles at every port as we came 
down, we thought to do the same here, but we 
were told it would be dangerous to do so for it 
might cause a disturbance. 

As we sat there and saw the dear people come 
down to the boat to sell things, our hearts were 
stirred, for we saw them as sheep having no 
shepherd. A group of fruit peddlers was sitting 
near. Taking some Spanish tracts and Testa- 
ments, I went over and talked to them as much 
as I could with my limited knowledge of the 
language, and gave them Gospel literature. A 
crowd gathered around, each holding out a hand 
for tracts. Even the custom house officers 
dressed in white, as is customary in the tropics, 
came over. The people came running from all 
sides, till soon I was pressed upon by them. 
Some flat cars were standing near. I climbed 
upon one of these to get out of the press, but 



Through Central America 



67 




E 
o 
u 



Through Central America 69 

the people climbed up, too, holding out their 
black hands for the little messengers. There 
must have been two or three hundred crowding 
around. 

As I was up there on that flat car looking down 
upon the poor hungry souls, holding out their 
black hands for the Bread of Life, I began to 
weep, and to speak in tongues. God spoke 
through me in Spanish to these dear hearts, 
telling them the story of the cross, and how and 
why Jesus died for us. It must have been an 
hour that I stood there in the hot sun, talking 
to them. They wept and begged for more 
tracts to carry home to their loved ones. One 
man, who could speak English, said to me, "We 
did not think you could speak our language so 
well," then he told me what I had said. 

And there my vision of the white cloud full of 
black hands was interpreted. Dressed in white, 
they were reaching out black hands for the 
gospel. Shall they call in vain? Oh, no! We 
will carry to them the gospel, the blessed story 
of Jesus and His wonderful love. They, too, 
shall be saved and ready when He comes. 

In many places in Mexico the power of God 
is falling. In one place a Mexican heard the 
gospel and w^as saved. He began preaching to 
the people. The Holy Spirit fell, and about a 
hundred received the Baptism. They were call- 
ing for a missionary to come to them. Shall 
we linger? Shall we not answer these calls? 



70 On Mule Back 

The wonderful love of God is better far than gold ; 

The wonderful love of God is better felt than told; 

The wonderful love of God so deep, so full, so free; 

The wonderful love of God as fathomless as the sea ; 

The wonderful love of God from Heaven to earth is 
sent; 

The wonderful love of God for each poor sinnei is 
meant. 
Tell it! Sing it! Preach it! Till all the earth around 
Shall hear thereof, and God be found. 



Through Central Anierica 



71 




Taking their morning bath 



THE VIRGIN OF THE ANGELS 

The people worship many different kinds of 
idols. Sometimes they walk hundreds of miles 
to do penance to some stick of wood or piece ot 
stone which has been set up by the priests. 

We met one young man who told us he had 
crawled three hundred miles, carrying a golden 
dish,, valued at ten thousand dollars. This idol 
to which he crawled is in Costa Rica, and is 
called "The Virgin of the Angels." The 
people have been made to believe that th's little 
image of black stone, three and a half inches 
high, can perform all sorts of miracles such as 
opening blind eyes, healing the deaf, and driving 
away evil spirits. The temple in which this idol 
is kept was built at a cost of one million dollars. 
Once a year this "Virgin of the Angels" is carried 
to visit all the other santos (saints-idols) that 
she may bless them, and give them more power 
for the ensuing year. This immense temple is 
literally lined with gold and silver dishes and 
cooking utensils brought there by the rich in- 
habitants of the country, with the hope that the 
image would bless and heal them. Just outside 
the temple are stacks of corn, bananas, coffee, 
sticks and stones, which the poor people have 
brought that they, too, might have their sins 
taken away and their diseases healed. 

They are begging for the Gospel. Their call 
comes to you and me. 



74 On Mule Back 

*'Coine over and help us!" 

and God asks, "Who will go for us?" 

Isaiah 6:8. Who will leave home, friends, 
and loved ones, and go out, not knowing whither 
they go? They will have to eat native foods 
that are unclean and unwholesome, and which 
may cause fevers and various sicknesses. They 
may have to sleep in old dirty native huts, 
where mosquitos, scorpions, bats, and vermin 
will attack them. Nevertheless God is calling 
now, as He called in Isaiah's day, "WHO WILL 
GO FOR US?" Jesus is Coming Soon! The 
message must go forth regardless of the cost. 

As we w^ent aboard the ship, the Lord said to 
me, 

"Cast thy bread upon the waters." 

Many dear souls were reached by the tracts on the 
different vessels upon which we traveled. To 
Gcd be all the glory! Eternity alone will reveal 
the number who received the Gospel in this way. 
Passengers and crews alike read the tracts, and 
called for more. People from all parts of the 
world have taken the little messengers with 
them and as they have grasped our hands with 
a hearty "Good-bye, and God bless you in your 
work," our own souls have been blessed and 
refreshed, for we have seen the Word of God, that 
liveth and abideth forever, finding its way into 
the hearts of men and women. 

People who were sick and afflicted, traveling 
in search of health, have heard the message of 
healing through Jesus Christ, and have been 



Through Central America 75 

healed, as we told them of the body of Christ 
that was broken for us, and that by His 
stripes we were healed. Souls who had sought 
comfort and rest in various religions, hearing 
the story of the cross, and of how Jesus died 
that we m.ight live, have accepted Him, and 
gone on their way rejoicing. 

"Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou 
shalt find it after many days." Eccles. 11:1. 
We know that when we reach the pearly gates 
of Heaven we shall see many who have been re- 
deemed from sin, because they read and heard 
the Bread of the Word, which we cast upon the 
waters. 

While we were giving out tracts and Testa- 
ments to the people who came to sell fruit and 
birds in one port in Mexico, we met a Mexican 
who had never heard the Gospel, or seen a Bible 
or a missionary before. I gave him a tract, in 
his own language, on the second coming of the 
Lord. He looked at the tract, then at me, and 
then said, "What is this for?" I told him it was 
a tract telling of the soon coming of Jesus back 
to this earth again. I could not speak or under- 
stand much Spanish. He said, "I will read it, 
then bring someone to interpret for me, for I 
want to know more about this." He went away, 
and in a few minutes came back with a young 
man who could speak English, for his interpreter. 

He asked me where I heard the Lord was 
soon coming back again. I said I had read it 
in the Bible, and that God was pouring out the 
Holy Spirit upon the earth in these last days; 



T6 On Mitlc Back 

thai thousands wore receiving the Spirit, and that 
the Holy Spirit is reveahng to the people that 
Jesus is coming soon. 

He then told iis he had been going all over 
Mexico. Central and South America, visiting 
idols and saints, \valking several thousands of 
miles, carrying hea\ >■ loads of gifts to these 
idols in the attempt to get peace of soul, 
but had not foimd it. At last, sick and weary, 
and in despair, he ga\ e up. 

I le \vas ^vondering if there \vere a I nxi and had 
asked that if there \vere He should make Hintself 
kno\vn to hint in some Ava>'. Fhen he said he saw 
a great, strong man coming up out of the sea. so 
powerful that he could make every nation of the 
woi"ld bow to him. This man destro>ed the 
Pope of Rome and the Catholic Church, built a 
great church for himself, and sought to compel 
all the workl to worship him. but there were 
many who would not do this, so he made war 
against them, killing them all. and the earth was 
covered with blood. "Fhe people called on God to 
stop the terrible war and take awa\' this man 
from the earth. Then Jesus came on a great 
white horse with many angels following him. 
destro>ed the wicked man. and set up a beauti- 
ful kingdom of peace, in which everyone was so 
happy, and the whole earth became a great 
beautiful garderi. 

Then this Mexican said, "l felt ver\- happy in 
my heart, and had such great peace of mind." 



Through Central Antsrica 



77 




2 
< 



Through Central America 79 

He had prayed God to send someone to tell 
him more of this way. He said he was very 
astonished to find someone giving out tracts on 
the ship. Always before when he made his 
trips he saw only gambling and dancing, but 
this time he found people preaching the Gospel. 

He went awa^^ happy, to tell his people he had 
found the Bible and the Way of Life. He talk- 
ed to all the Mexicans on board, telling them 
how God had answered his prayer. 

One man, who owned a gold mine in Mexico, 
and had been in the United States and was re- 
turning, told us, as we were giving out litera- 
ture to the people, that we were the first mission- 
aries he ever met coming that way. He said he 
had been in Mexico forty years, had made many 
trips back and forth, but had met no Christians 
in those parts before. He himself knew some- 
thing of the Gospel, and was glad to have the 
papers, and told us of the great need among 
the people there. 

Oh! shall not we who have received this great 
outpouring of the Spirit, cry, as did the holy ones 
in Isaiah, "Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts!'' 
till the whole earth be filled with His glory? As 
I write in the hot state-room of the ship, my 
soul is full of glory, and my hands are 
being moved over the typewriter by the power 
of the Spirit, while He tells me that Jesus is 
coming soon, that we must work fast, and open 
our souls to Himself until we are filled with His 
power and glory, so that the people with whom 



80 On Mule Back 

we come in contact will know we have been 
with Him. and learned of Him. 

A >oimg man came to me and said. "I heard 
you praying in your state-room this morning. 
jNIay I come in next time when 3-0U have prater? 
I want to know about the Gospel. ' ' We had given 
him a Testament. The next morning he came 
and knelt with us and prayed to the Lord to save 
him. He arose, with his face shining with the 
glory of God, saying, "Won't you come to m>- 
country and tell my people about Jesus? My 
mother has been making long trips to worship 
'The Black Christ' in the great temple on the 
Honduras border, but she hasn't found peace. 
\A'on't A'ou come and tell her of this wonderful 
salvation?" We corresponded with him later, 
sending him tracts and papers, and he is going 
on with the Lord. Won't you pray that God 
will raise up someone who will go to them with 
the Gospel before it is too late? 

As I have already said. Central and South 
America are opening their eyes, and fast turning 
from Romanism. They are accepting Spirit- 
ualism, New Thought. Christian Science, and 
all kinds of false religions, because the true Gos- 
pel is not being preached to them. Shall we 
not awake, rise up. go forth with the message of 
the cross, and reach these people before they are 
destroyed with these awful things? 

A man from Honduras, who had been in the 
States studying New Thought, was returning 
with several boxes of books to sell to the people. 



Through Central America 81 

This dear young man had never heard the Gospel. 
He said he found that Rome was keeping 
the people in ignorance. Having met some New 
Thought teachers in his country, he had been to 
the States and studied New Thought for a year, 
and was now returning to teach it to his people, 
who, he said, were anxious to have him do so. 

We gave him a Bible, the first he had ever 
seen, and he read it every day. We talked and 
prayed with him until he was saved, for the dear 
old Word of God always wins its way into the 
hearts of men. He threw the New Thought 
books overboard and went on his way with 
tracts, Testaments and Bibles for his people, 
rejoicing that he had found the true God. Let 
us pray for this precious soul, that God will 
greatly use him. He is a finely educated young 
man, whose influence will tell on his country- 
men. 

Oh! how glad we were we had been led to take 
that boat, and had had the opportunity to give 
the Bread of Life to that hungry man! God had 
led us on that very ship, and certainly we were 
blessed as we cast the Word of God forth and 
saw many people running after it. There is a 
great ministry on the ships, not only to passen- 
gers, but also to the officers and crews. They 
spend all their time on the water, and do not 
have any opportunity to hear the Gospel, only 
as it is taken to them. 

Another man, a Jew, was very sick, had been 
for a long time. He was traveling for his 
health. As my husband spoke to him about 

OM-6 



82 On Mule Back 

the Lord and told him God could heal him, he 
said, "Well, I will come right into your room now 
and have you pray for me. I am suffering so, 
I can't live until I reach my destination if I do 
not get relief." He came in and we prayed for 
him, and anointed him with oil in the name of 
the Lord, asking God to touch his body. In- 
stantly he threw up his hands and began to say, 
"Glory! Glory! Glory!" The power fell on him, 
and he was saved and healed. As he left the 
boat he took with him some tracts and a Testa- 
ment, and, best of all, the glory of God in his 
soul. 

He declared he was going to preach the Gospel, 
and he began right on the ship. He was so filled 
with the power and glory of God he could not 
keep from telling it. Here was one more poor 
suffering soul who received the Bread of Life that 
was cast upon the waters, and who went on his 
way rejoicing, to tell the glad news to other suf- 
fering ones. 

Let us not be wear^• in well doing, but rise 
up in faith and go forth in Jesus' Name, casting 
our bread upon the waters, for we shall find it 
bringing forth life. 

A woman that I spoke to became so interested 
that she came every day for tracts and papers to 
read. I also gave her some good books on the 
second coming of the Lord, and on salvation. 
She, too, was saved, and went away with her 
suitcase full of the Word of God to give to her 
people. 



ThrougJi Central America 83 

"With this blessed hope before us, 

Let no harp remain unstrung, 
Let the mighty heavenly chorus 

Onward roll from tongue to tongue; 
Christ is coming; 
Come thou blessed Prince of Peace." 



ARRIVING IN OUR PORT AT 
NICARAGUA 

Noviring Xicarai;iia. in iho distance wo saw 
thivo nuniiuain peaks, and were told that was 
the Tort of Corinto, where we were to land. As 
the ship nuned on, we could see the lii^ht-house, 
its white head towering high in the air pointing 
out the wa>" we were to go. 

The scener\" was beatitifiil. Cocoaiuit and 
palm trees lined the beach. Idie sea was calm 
and we slowh' mo\"ed into the harbor. 
getting a good \ iew of the little cit>- spread ont 
before ns. luvat peace settled down o\er our 
souls, and the Yioly Spirit whispered to tis 
that we were in Mis will. 1 stepped into iu\- 
stateroom and opened m>' Bible, and this pas- 
sage came to m>" sight : 

"The Lord shall guide thee contmually, 
and satisfy thy soul in drouth, and make 
fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a 
watered garden and like a spring of water 
whose waters fail not." — Isa. oS:ll. 

We had cabled Brother Schoenich to meet us. 
btit our boat arrived two days earlier than 
schedtiled. and on going ashore, we fotmd he 
was not there. \\ e went to work, spea king- 
some English and a little Spanish, and making 
matT\' signs and gesriu-es. The riexr morning 
Brother Schoenich arrived, and worked faith- 
fulh-. helping to get our things through the cus- 
toms house. After seeing that e\"er\-thini;- was 



Through Central America 



85 




Picturesque Street Scene of the Port of Corinto, 
where we landed 



Through Central America 



87 




4 



bo 

•c 

3 



« 



Through Central America 89 

ready for the coretta (oxcart) ride to Mata- 
galpa, we took train for Leon. 

Arriving at Leon we went to the home of one 
of the native Christians. The food was strange and 
new to us, but it came from a heart of love. The 
next da}^ was Sunday, and a company of dear 
ones, who had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, 
met for worship. Brother Schoenich preached 
to them, admonishing them to stand true. They 
had no pastor, but were going on with the Lord. 

Next morning we went to the market to buy 
food for our three days' trip on mule back. We 
found some of the saints there. They were 
reading their Bibles, and witnessing for Jesus in 
the rrtidst of the priests and thousands of Cath- 
olics. They had their walls covered with scrip- 
ture mottoes. When saved, these people make 
good soldiers for Jesus, enduring hardness joy- 
fully. They remember the pit from whence 
they were digged. 

Bidding them good-bye, we prepared our 
lunch, mounted our mules, and rode until about 
ten o'clock that night. Stopping at a camp 
ground for coretta travelers, we lit our candles, 
ate our meal, strung up our hammocks, and lay 
down to rest amid the lowing of the many oxen. 
All coffee and freight is moved to and from the 
interior on oxcarts (corettas in Spanish). 

The next morning we made our toilet in and 
by the large trough where the mules and oxen 
were watered. After eating breakfast under 



90 On Mule Back 

the shed of the native hut. we Avere off for our 
day's travel 

At noon we stopped again at a httle house on the 
hiUside for food and water. Wliile waiting for 
the meal to be prepared we strtnig up our ham- 
mocks for a rest. Our bodies were very tired, 
as we had never ridden horseback before. B>- 
this time we felt better down than up. Brother 
Schoenich. being accustomed to these trips, did 
not tire so easily, so he gathered the tamily 
together and preached to them. It was the 
first time they had heard the Gospel. 

About five o'clock we again mounted our beasts, 
and traveled until midnight. We passed o^-er 
some rough country, the many wild parrots and 
birds seemed to be screeching and singing to 
the dusty. wa>worn travelers. Once in a while 
we got a hot breath front the great volcano in 
the distance whose smoke we could see billowing 
tip towards the clouds. 

Again we had supper b\- candle-light, then 
htmg up our swinging beds in the corridor of an 
adobe house, and rested till the dawn, when we 
heard the now familiar alarm, the bra>ing of 
our faithftil mtiles. who seemed to want to be 
traveling. We arose, dressed, and soon were off. 

At noon we stopped again for rest and for food. 
The food the^' offered was so seasoned with flies 
and worms that we decided to buy a chicken and 
cook it ourselves. We bought a "fryer'* but it 
proved to be an old hen of many years. We 
were invited bv our hostess to come into her 



Through Central America 



91 




Through Central America 93 

kitchen to fry our fowl. As we were trying to 
get the earthen pot fixed on the fire, which was 
made in a sort of furnace in the corner, the 
smoke pouring out into the room. 

We noticed some strange sights in that kitchen. 
In one corner a nice fat pig was having his noon- 
day swim in a trough of slop that had been ar- 
ranged for his benefit. Meanwhile a large red 
rooster lifted up his merry "cock-a-doodle-doo" 
above the noise of all the rest of the fowls and 
animals that filled the place. 

We managed to get the old hen smoked as well 
as fried, and as we went out to place it on the 
small table which had been fixed for us, we dis- 
covered Brother Schoenich had gathered a com- 
pany together and in his enthusiastic way was 
preaching to them, showing them that worship- 
ing the Virgin Mary and the santos, (saints), 
and learning catechisms, etc., was not the true 
religion of the Bible. They listened with great 
interest, asking many questions about the Bible. 

After our meal we lay down on some boards 
to rest, and fell asleep, only to be awakened by 
the chattering of many little voices. On investi- 
gating we found the children were having school 
in one room, all reading at the same time, taking 
turns at the door with a stick to keep the pigs 
and chickens out. We left there and traveled un- 
til dark, then stopped for the night. Rising early 
the next morning we traveled several leagues, 
and then came in sight of the lovely little city of 
Matagalpa, nestling at the foot of the mountains. 



94 On Mule Back 

The only evil and unlovely thing, there, was man, 
who has sinned and gone far away from God. 

Dear Sister Schoenich and some of the native 
christians came out to meet us, as Isaac came out 
to meet Rebecca. We alighted, had a drink of 
water, and rested a little before going into town. 
We certainly were glad to see the entrance-gate 
to our new home, w^hich was, I think, the largest 
gate I had ever seen. We thought of our en- 
trance through the gate of Heaven, after our 
long, weary journey through this w^orld of sin 
and sorrow. 

On dismounting, we were met by some more 
of our dear brown-faced friends w^ho had gathered 
to greet the new missionaries. When we saw 
their faces shining with the glory of God, and 
heard them sing the praises of Jesus we were 
refreshed in soul and body. After a few hours 
of rest we were able to go into the meeting and 
help push the battle for our King. 

We will work here with Brother and Sister 
Schoenich for a while, for they have a large 
work, and need help. They are much worn in 
body after almost eight years on the field, and 
need a furlough. Pray for us. The fields are 
white unto harvest, and the laborers are few. We 
w^ant to bring some glad trophies home to God. 



Through Central America 



9d 




I'hrouilh Cfiilnil .liitcrira 



97 




bO 
C 






OlVI-7 



OUR SI AY IN MArA(;ALPA 

Our stay in Mala.ualjKi was a very pleasant; 
and i)r()fital)I(' one in many ways. 1 1 w;is a threat 
pleasure lo see I lie way (><>(\ worked aiiioni; llie 
dear natives. 'I'liey wcic deliii,liled lo come and 
worship (he Loi"d, and anxious (o sec olhers of 
their people hroiii^ht into the fold. 'Ihcawlul 
sins and idolalry of Ihese people are heyond our 
power (o deserihe. 

We had heen llicic ahoul foiu' days when 
Brother and Sister S( hoenich were (ailed to one 
of their other stations ovei' in the mountains. 
rerh.ij)s you can ima,u,ine us |)Oor little folks 
iheic without the laii;<ua.K<', l<ikin^ care of the 
station and earryini^ on the meetini^s while they 
were away. Risini; very early to heli) them off 
helore the sun was hot, we hade them ;<ood-bye, 
then turned our faces toward Heaven and asked 
Ood to hel]) us, for we were there, and nnist be 
brave soldiers, not L!,c( friii^htened and run away 
from the battle. The lioly Spirit fell upon us, 
and the i>ord spoke to us saying Iht would be 
mout h and wisdom inito us. 

y\s we stepped into the corridor leading from 
the yard, we met our first ])robleni, which was 
to s])eak to one who knew only th(; Si)anish 
language, with no one to interpret for us. The 
man from th(; fmca (little farm; had come in to 
ask for the hammer. He talked and laughed, 



100 On Mule Back 

and we all talked and laughed, and tried to see 
whether we could get what he wanted. We 
brought him the horses, the harness, and almost 
everything in the kitchen. At last we took him 
into the tool room to let him see if what he 
wanted was there, and he picked up the hammer. 
Ever after that we remembered the Spanish 
word for hammer. But. oh my I there was a 
pile of things lying all over the corridor to be 
picked up and put in their places. However, 
it was a ver^- effectual way to get the language. 

Xext the girl in the kitchen must be told Avhat 
to cook for dinner. Into the kitchen I went, 
knowing the mountain was before me, and must 
be sumioimted, and I meant, by the help of the 
Lord, to go over the top. Putting out the 
things for her to cook. I showed her by signs, 
as much as possible, how they were to be fixed. 
She did pretty well and the meals were good. 

But the worst was to come. The next morn- 
ing was Sunday, and there were the dear na- 
tives gathering into the chapel. \\ hat were we 
to do? Oh. we felt so helpless I Down on our 
faces we went to ask God to come tipon us that 
day. and fill us with his power and pour out the 
Spirit on all the dear people. We took our 
Spanish song books, and went in. and played and 
sang the hymns the best we could. We had 
learned to say, "Let us pray," so we knelt down 
and. we in English, and they in Spanish, potired 
out our supplications before the Lord, and the 
power fell. We were there over two hours, just 



Through Central America 101 




Alma and her music class in Matagalpa 



Through Central /Imerica 



103 




It c 

B ° 
? B 



1J (U 

■^ o 



Through Central America 105 

worshiping the Lord, and the language was well 
understood by all, for the Holy Spirit did the 
speaking and worshiping, and we did not make 
an effort to do anything. Oh, how we did feel 
the mighty presence of the Holy One that day! 

The next day many new things came up. 
First there was the laundry to send out, then 
the marketing to be done. We all rose early, 
got our Spanish grammars, and, by the time the 
woman came for the washing, we were ready to 
speak a lew words to her about it. Then we 
studied what to say at the market, and my hus- 
band came home with some of the things we 
wanted, and some things we didn't want, but we 
were learning the language right along. 

I wanted to season something with butter, so 
called to the cook to hurry and bring it to me. 
I thought she was awfully slow. Hearing a 
great noise behind me, I turned and saw her 
leading the horse into the kitchen. I had 
asked for the horse, instead of the butter, to put 
into the cooking. After a hearty laugh from all 
of us, I went into my room for my Spanish 
grammar and looked up the word for butter, to 
be sure I should not make that mistake again. 

Things were going pretty well by this time, 
except for the few mistakes we made occasionally. 

The next thing I called for was a spoon, 
with which to eat my soup. They brought the 
broom in, and laid it on the table. I couldn't 
very well eat soup with the broom, so sent it 
back and kept asking for a spoon, until either I 



106 On Mule Back 

had the word right, or they guessed what I 
wanted, I don't know which. 

\A'e employed a teacher and e^■er^• morning 
for a couple of hours we studied the language. 
This was a great help. We soon were able to 
ask for butter or spoons with no such mistakes, 
and before long we could sing and read our 
Bibles quite well, also give our testimonies in 
Spanish. From da>' to day we could note the 
progress we made in learning the language. 

Then came the day when Brother and Sister 
Schoenich returned home. They were tired and 
worn, for they had been working very hard in 
the meetings while awa>". and we wished we 
could take all the burdens from them, and let 
them rest. But there were many things to at- 
tend to. They went right to printing the paper, 
toiling almost day and night, not sparing them- 
selves one moment. These dear souls have 
come into this dark land of sin and idolatry and 
laid down their lives for the Gospel. Let us 
hold them up in prayer and by our means. Let 
every reader of this book breathe a pra\er to 
God for these dear workers. Their bodies are 
tired and worn and they need a rest very badly. 
May the Lord of the harvest send forth laborers 
to this dark land to take their place long enough 
for them to haAC a furlough. Man\' were the 
precious lessons of faith and love we learned 
from them for which we praise God. 

The days went by. Three months passed. 
We had no thought of leaving, until one dav 



Through Central America 



107 




Through Central America 



109 




Alma and Carl among the banana trees 



Through Central America 111 

while we were out giving tracts to the Indians 
as they passed by, God spoke to me and said, 
''Go to Leon." We didn't see how we could 
possibly do that, for we had so little of the lan- 
guage, and no money to go with, and it would 
take at least seventy- five dollars. But as we 
waited before the Lord, we were sure it was His 
dear will. Then we asked for the means to be 
sent for the ox cart to carry our baggage over 
the mountains. The next mail brought a draft 
for just the amount needed. Brother and Sis- 
ter Schoenich told us that before Sister Yeagges' 
death she had said the Lord showed her we were 
the missionaries for Leon. At that time we 
had never met any of the workers, but had been 
merely corresponding with them. 

Then there was the packing of our things in 
preparation for the trip, which was a long tire- 
some one over the mountains and plains under 
the tropical sun. We worked hard, and in one 
week were off. Brother Schoenich took us down 
on his mules, which was very kind of him. His 
heart is in the work in this country, and he has 
been willing to make every sacrifice to get the 
Gospel to these people. 



LEAVING MATAGALPA FOR LEON 

After seeing" our trunks and baggage loaded 
on the oxcart, and started on the wa^', we set 
about to prepare a knich for the trip, as the onty 
food a\'ailable while tra\'eling through the coun- 
try- is tortillas, (corn cakes), and frijoles, (beans), 
and many times one cannot even get these, for 
the people are ver^' poor, many of them living 
on roots and leaves from certain trees. 

After saying good-b}-e to Sister Schoenich, 
and to the native Christians who had gathered 
to see us off, we mounted our beasts and were 
soon on our way through the little ^•illag"e, wav- 
ing good-bA'e to the many friends we had met 
while there. The road being very good for 
some distance we had several races, and we re- 
marked how clean we then were, but how dif- 
ferent we would look on reaching our destina- 
tion. The sun was just sinking behind the 
western hills and we could see the natives driving 
in the animals for the night. As we rode on 
we saW' the hills were all on lire, for the custom 
there is to burn all the shrubbery before 
planting crops. As we saw the great flames 
w^inding their way up the tall trees, and flashing 
into the air, burning up the thorns and briers, 
and leaving the ground clean so the seed which 
was to be planted might grow, there came to 
my mind the thought that even so, the power 
and fire of God could fall on that countrj^ and 



Through Central America 



113 




Where we stopped for the night 
Note the glare of the sun on the white sand 



OM-8 



Throtifjh Central America 



115 



^ . » r ^^lifc Ji'"*'**' .^MH^k 



m 







Throuf/h Ccnlrdl /hhcrica 117 

hiirii ii|) ;ill llic .tvvliil sin ;iii(l idoKilry wliicli 
was hindinj; those \)v\>\)\v, so thai llic Word of 
Ciod could be sowed and hrifi,^ forlli Iriiil in 
iheii' lives. And I here arose from oin' hearts, a 
cry to oni- lleavenly halher (o send out His 
mcsscniMis inio thai needy land to H^lil I lie 
fires of I he I h)ly Spirit , till sin shonid l>e hnrned, 
and t he people he lree(h 

"Send down Thy power, O Lord! 

And Id Tliy nicrey (low, 
Till ;ill llic |)CO|)lc of diis Kind 

Sli.ill 'I liy s;il v;i,1 ion know." 

Kidin.L; until ahont lOo'eloek, passin^oversonie 
very rou.^h road, we reached a little village. 
I>ein,!u; very tired and hungry, W(; decided to 
stop here lor th(; ni,i;ht. We huni^ our swin^in^ 
beds up in the shed of the native hut, which was 
used for a saloon, a,nd after eatin;< our scanty 
meal by candledi!_:,ht , we connnitt.ed ours(dves 
to the kee|)in,!:; of tlu- One who never slundxTS 
nor sleejjs, then lay down to rest anu'd th(Malk- 
int( of many other travelers, who were stopping 
there for the ni^ht. h^ach on(; carried in his 
belt a bit4 revolver, and a machette (a large 
knife), which all the |)eo|)le, even the children, 
carry, and with which th(;y kill one another, 
when they become angry. Nevertheless we were 
conscious of the angels camjjing around us, and 
there was no fear in our hearts. 

Awakening next morning very early, w(; 
arose and brushed off the dust which cov(-red 
us from thecf^nstant traveling on the road, near 



118 0« jiiKC i^ack 

which we hvid Wen sleeping, for the ^xx^ple 
tra\el all ihixnigh the nii^ht. as in the da\ the 
sun is \eiy hot. Wo aio our bn\ikfast again 
by candle-light, and atier our morning prayer, we 
mounted and were otT for a da> *s trip. Though 
our Ixxiies were very tinni wo wont on singing 
and praising Inxl for the glorious privilege of 
carrx ing the liosjx^l mess^ige to that dark land. 

Wo axie iu\til alx^ut mx^n. when wo CvUiio to a 
stream of water w hich kx^kixi very refivshing to 
us. The ^xxn- animals wen.^ so glad to see that 
water that when they got in it they drank, and 
drank, and drank. We spread our lunch on the 
SvUtd. vVnd washtxi ourselves and drank heartily, 
for that was the tirst water we had s«.xm\ for two 
days except the little the natives had given us 
to drink. Then came one who told us that just 
U|.>stream all the dead animals of the neighlx^r- 
hood were thanvn in. Bui wo clainuxl the 
pivir.iso. :;\.: "If ye dritik aity deadly thiit^ 
it sliall not luirt you." Mark lo; IS. 

After a rest for ourselves and Ixiasts. n\ o wore 
again on our way. The sun Ixnng \ ery hot by 
this time we prayed that the Lorvl would send 
a cloud over it. which He did. Priise His Hoh 
Name! *'The sun shall not smite you b\ day." 
We went ot\. jxissing over great ux^ks and 
Kmlder^. The mules had to climb up and over 
them until at times it was im^x^ssiblo for 
new and inexjx^rienced riders as we wea\ to 
stay in the saddles. However, some of us missed 
our Sviddles onlv a few times and ti.x^k a rumble. 



7 hroufjh Central A m erica 



]V) 




Alma and Carl feeding the pet deer 



Through Central America 



121 




Through Central America 123 

Sister Finney, putting her confidence in a 
broken part on the back of her saddle, fell off 
as she was going up a steep place, and after 
standing on her head for an instant, rolled 
down the bank, the mule stepping on her chest. 
Rising, she praised the Lord that He had sent 
His angel and delivered her. She mounted, 
and we were off again, after finding she was not 
hurt. Evidently I did not have so much faith 
in the matter of falling off mules, and rolling 
round amid the rocks, for while passing through 
a very deep cut, with high banks on either 
side, the mule which I was riding pushed 
against the bank, and having a bad saddle, I 
lost my hold and fell under the animal's feet. 
She. was kind enough not to step on the poor 
missionary who was such an inexperienced rider, 
but who had been called to learn, and she very 
carefully stepped over me. I was picked up, 
and, after a little prayer-meeting there in the 
dust, I was able to remount and ride on to our 
destination, thirty-five miles away. God won- 
derfully blessed me and the Holy Spirit came 
upon me, and I sang and praised the Lord in 
tongues — with interpretation. All the way I 
felt the strong arm of Jesus upholding me. On 
arriving my foot was found to be badly broken 
and crushed, and so swollen that I could hardly 
remove my shoe. 

Praise the Lord! He came down and blessed 
my soul, and touched my body! How His love 
did burn in my heart! As the devil seemed 
to be angry I felt that I was surely called to 



1-M On Mule Back 

preach thoCiOspol in tluu pl.uw Tlio |\nvor \\oiu 
through my poor, oi uslu\l viml snvoUou fool umil 
it Wvis oniiroly strvii_i;hUMU\l. for it had boon so 
twisted that n\\ toos n\ oio behind, and ni\ hool 
was in front. 1 eoiild fool the bones set vind 
straii^htonod as the mighty power snrj^ed through 
hke boUs of eleetricity. 1 did not stop preaching 
aU hough for a time 1 was nnablo to put nn- foot 
to the floor, but the people came to nu\ sitting 
there in the house, to ask about the Cn^s^^ol. 

("ino night 1 felt the healing touch so stroi\g 
that I know 1 could walk, so, arising next morn- 
ing, 1 at tempted to put on nu shoo, but it 
would i\ot even go oxer my toes. Xovortholoss. 
I praised <.>od. k\ced the shoe on the other foot. 
ready to walk, and then kept pulling at the other 
shoe imtil it went on. Soon it was laced up and 
I was ready to walk. 1 went into the meetings, 
and have been gT)ing o\ or since, and that foot 
is as good as it e\'er was. How we ilo praise 
Jesus that we can sutYer for 1 lis i\ame's sake. No 
Wv\rrior returns from battle without wotu\ds. or 
marks of hardships endured, and one national 
hero declared he was sorrx that he had but one 
life to give for his country. Much more should 
wo endun^ and gixo. who are lighting for our 
Heavenly coimtry under the leadership of our 
great Captain. King Jesus. 

Wo have heard the ^lacedonian call. "C^uwe 
Over and Help I's/' and the love of Cnxl con- 
strains us, so "onward we must go, regardless of 
the foe." TruK" these dear people are calling for 



'f /iri)ii(/li i'cninit .liiifrlni 



125 




Carl with his faithful pony 



Through Central America 



127 




Bringing coffee down from the mountain plantations 



Through Central America 129 

US to come and give them the Gospel. Shall we 
fail and allow them to perish without the knowl- 
edge of the love of Him, who so freely died to 
save them?" 

Late one afternoon we arrived at a small vil- 
lage, and being tired from the hard day's travel 
we decided to stay for the night, but when we 
stopped, ready to dismount, we were told that 

Robbers 

had swept down from the mountains on the 
towns and villages of that district, had rob- 
bed the people, and driven off their stock. The 
soldiers had been sent out, and already one 
battle had been fought, and more trouble was 
brewing, so it was very dangerous for us to be 
traveling. We looked to the Lord for guidance, 
and felt that we must lose no time, but taking 
the Blood for our protection, should move on. 
Arising at two o'clock the next morning we went 
over the road on which the robbers were sup- 
posed to be, through a dense forest, but saw 
nor heard nothing except the many parrots and 
birds, screeching and singing. 

We made seventeen leagues that day, crossing 
mountains and plains, stopping at noon at a 
little hut by the roadside for food for the beasts 
and rest for ourselves. We were received with 
much hospitality by these people, with their 
bamboo covered house, its walls composed of a 
few sticks stuck up at intervals. The entire 
inside had on its dress of mourning from the 
smoke from the family cook-stove, which was 

OM-9 



130 On Mule Back 

a pile of rocks in vmio corner. \\'hilo the 
Avonum ^vas making: us a fresco of gourd seed. 
i,a favorite drink the\ make [here\ grindiui; the 
seeds oit the toniha stone, the old mother pig 
and her babies were ha\"ing a real iubik\^ under 
the ricketx- tabU\ In that coimtry hogs seem 
TO be ti\e famih pets, for in cn er\ house there 
are nian\- of them. The beds were mereb" a tew 
sticks covered with a rawhide, (."ither sticks 
sumiounted b> a rough board served for a tabU\ 
and a bkick snuitt\- pik^ of rocks was the stove. 
These artick^s compk^ted the home furnishings. 
The host was jxior, but oh. how he and his family 
listened to the Gospel story! This is the picture 
of thousands of homes in that cotmtry. The 
people are exceedingly poor, btit hungry for the 
Bread of Tafe. How we enjoyed preaching the 
Gospel to them I Although there were ntnnerous 
hardships to endure, it was sweet to be in God's 
will, and to tell these dear ones of His great love 
for. arid His desire to save them. 

Reaching otir next stoppirig place late in the 
evening we camped for the night. After we 
women were in our hammocks, and the men 
had seen the animals put away for the night, they 
w-ent for a swint in a nearby stream. \Mieti 
their swim was tinished. they found the stream 
>\^s the home of some large 

Alligators 

bur, praise God! He is the same as when He 
stopped the lioris' mouths for Daniel. Certairily 
He does care for His little children. 



Through Central America 



131 




The only Jesus they know 



Through Central America 



133 




One of the first to accept the Gospel 



Through Central America 135 

The God of Daniel was great and strong 

Stopping the hons' mouths, and filHng his heart with 
song. 

_ Rising before daybreak we sent up a thanks- 
giving to our Heavenly Father for His safe- 
keeping through the night, and asked Him to 
protect us that day. Then we loaded our beds 
and other belongings upon the mules and went 
on our way. 

That day's journey brought us over a part 
of the country which was covered with great 
rocks and boulders thrown from Nicaragua's 
largest volcano, El Momotombo. In the dis- 
tance we could see the volcano belching forth 
smoke, and the heat was intense. About one 
hundred years ago this volcano completely de- 
stroyed the city of Leon, leaving a great lake 
filled with water, which is there today. 

The dust was very deep in the roads, because 
of the extensive traveling. It rolled up about 
us m a great cloud. Many times we could not 
see each other a few feet away. We resembled 
a miniature whirlwind coming down the road, 
and surely we were a whirlwind coming against 
the devil. The enemy would fain stir up a 
storm to strangle God's people and prevent 
them from invading the territory he has so long 
held, but we would not be intimidated. Souls 
were at stake. They were being held in prison, 
behmd bars of iron, but their cries had reached 
Heaven and God had sent some of His messen- 
gers with the glad news of freedom. The mes- 



136 On Mule Back 

sage must be delivered, regardless of the cost, 
so over mountain and plain we went, covered 
with dust, faint from mtich traveling through 
long, hot days, but on to the people with the 
message that Jesus died to set them free. 

■'Will we ever think of trials, will we ever think of pain. 
Or the crosses we've endured for Jesus' sake. 

On that Hallelujah morning as we gather round the 
throne. 
And with Jesus of the marriage feast partake? 

Let us hasten with the message which He said was 
meant for all. 
To the black, the white, the yellow, and the brown; 
Of one blood He m.ade all nations, we must win them 
all for Him. 
Precious jewels to adorn the Savior's crown." 

Toward dusk we came in sight of a little 
adobe house, and were told that we might stop 
there for the night. How nice it was to see a 
place where we could rest our tired bodies, wash 
ourselves and comb our hair. For three days 
we had been unable to comb our hair or wash 
otirselves for water was too scarce. How wonder- 
ful it will be when we earth-travelers pass on 
our way to that City which hath foinidations. 
whose builder and maker is God, where we shall 
see dear Jesus and hear Him say. "Come, My 
children, into the mansions I have prepared 
for yon." The residents of that city "shall 
hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither 
shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For 
the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall 
feed them, and shall lead them unto living 
fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all 



Through Central /America 



137 










•>'*■ 



-.>j^. r: > -^ -1:^.11 Am^\ 



Carl and his father, as they distributed tracts to the Indians 
by the roadside. 



Through Central America 139 

tears from their eyes." — Rev. 7:16,17. How 
blessed to know Jesus has gone to prepare a 
place for us! How the very thought thrills my 
soul, and causes me to want to work to help 
bring others into those mansions! 

While talking with the natives, they told us 
that 

A Large Tiger 

had come down from the mountains and, after 
killing two cows and injuring several more, had 
escaped. They were greatly frightened, as the 
animal was still in the neighborhood, but we lay 
down under the shed, and went to sleep, awaken- 
ing just when the sun was coming up through the 
trees. We hustled and dressed, and after or- 
dering some hot milk from the people there, we 
mounted for another day's journey. We went 
down the road in the direction which the tiger 
had taken. The natives warned us that we 
were likely to meet the ferocious animal in the 
forest not far away, but we went on, singing the 
sweet songs of Zion, and trusting ourselves to 
His keeping, who said, 'T will give you power 
over all the power of the enemy." A tiger was 
a very small thing compared to the awful 
monster of sin which had ravaged the whole 
country. We realized that the King's business 
demanded haste, so we passed on, and rode over 
the dusty road unmolested. The blessed Holy 
Spirit filled our hearts with joy at the thought 
of soon reaching the place where we should have 
meetings with the dear faithful little band of 
Christians who were awaitins: 



OIR ARRlVAl IN 1 FOX 

Our arrival in the cit\ aroused much curiosity 
among the jxx^ple. As we passed through the 
streets they came out of their houses and fol- 
lowed us to see where we were going. \A'hen we 
came in sight of the house where Hved a Chris- 
tian woman, who had suffered much at the 
hands of her people, she caiuo out to meet us. 
The pinver fell on her, and she danced for joy. 
and we w ept and shouted. A crow d soon gath- 
ered to see what had occurred, and we had a meet- 
ing right there, telling them of the Savior's love 
and His willingness to SvWe them from all sin. and 
to present them faultless before His Father. Fhese 
people had persecuted this dear sister for ten years 
after she was saved. They would come and w hip 
her, throw her gx>ods into the street, and tell her 
they would kill her if she did not turn back into 
the Roman church, but she stood true, and now 
had the Baptism of the Spirit, and in her house 
we had our meetings. 

We slept on cow hides for beds, with a straw- 
mat imder us. We ate our food out of gourds for 
two weeks imtil our things came and we could 
g^t a house. It was sweet to be in the Master's 
dear service. 

The city of Leon is anti- American because it 
is the headquarters of the Liberal party, which 
is tr\ing to o\erthrow- the rule of the church of 
Rome. The Ignited States appointed a pres- 



'I lirfju'lh ('tniirnl America 



HI 




Through Central America 143 

ident twelve years ago, thus stopping the revolu- 
tion then in progress. As the president is a 
church man the liberal party hasn't much love 
for an American. 

This was a difficulty which we had before us. 
Not only were missionaries hated, but we were 
American missionaries, which was far worse. 
We looked to the Father for a house in which we 
might live, and preach the Gospel to these dear 
people. A man came to us and said we could 
have a house, so we moved in the following day. 
It was a poor thing to call a house, being dirty, 
and ^ infested with scorpions, lizards, and a 
species of ant which builds a big mud house 
and eats not only one's clothes but also the 
furniture. 

We were situated between two saloons and 
houses of ill-fame, right in the slum district. 
People danced, drank and caroused all night 
in these places. It was a pretty good place in 
which^ to open fire on the enemy, being right in 
the midst of his works. When an army advances 
to fight the enemy it goes to the strongest point. 

On one side of our house, which was built of 
thin lumber, there were cracks in the wall, and we 
could look through the cracks into the saloon. 
We remembered the scripture which says we 
are not to light a candle and put it under a 
bushel, but on a candle stick, so all can see; 
so we would get out our little organ and sing 
and play, then kneel and pray, and the people 
would peep through at us. We were told they 



144 . On Mule Back 

might throw rocks at us, and burn down the 
house, and might even kill us, but we were not 
there to draw back, so we opened fire with the 
heavy artillery of God's power in the Holy 
Ghost. 

We had not had, as yet, any public meetings, 
but had been waiting on the Lord for guidance. 
One morning there appeared a woman in our 
doorway, crying out 

"Will You Come and Pray for My 
Baby? It Is Dying!" 

We went with her to her home, which was a 
few doors away. There on the bed lay a little 
child, seemingly just passing away. A crowd had 
gathered about the door. When I saw the baby 
and that crowd there arose a cry to God from 
the depths of my soul to heal the child, thereby 
proving His power to the people. The child 
seemed to pass away, but we called on God to 
heal it for His glory. The little thing rose up, 
climbed off the bed, and began playing on the 
floor. 

The mother shouted and gave herself to the 
Lord then and there. The doctors had given 
the child medicine to make it die easy, for it 
had been sick a long time. The mother brought 
the baby to our house, and sang, and praised 
the God of Heaven until the people from far 
and near came to see the child. She after- 
wards took the child and went all over the city 
from house to house telling how God had healed 



Through Central Amer 



ica 



145 




Mother with child that was raised up from death 



OM-IO 



Through Central America 147 

it and saved her. Then the people began to 
come to be prayed for. Often they would 
come and stay far into the night. 

We were having such a blessed time that we 
forgot about living in the slums, and about the 
saloons on either side of us, although at first 
we could not sleep for the noise from them. 
Soon we discovered they had moved the saloon 
which was so close to our bedroom. When I 
saw the proprietor come into the meetings, with 
others who came for prayer, I asked him if he 
had moved. He answered he had, as he did 
not feel good to have a bar so close to where 
we prayed so much. Besides, he said, he had 
no customers left, as they all came to hear us. 
Hallelujah! Jesus did move in a mighty way. 

On the other side was the biggest house of 
ill-fame in the city. Men and women gathered 
there by dozens, some of them perfectly nude, 
dancing and drinking at all hours of the night. 
It was so awful we felt that hell had been un- 
capped in that place. But here came the 
"madame" to us, asking for prayer, saying she 
was sick, and she knew she was living a bad life. 
After her came many others. We pra3/ed with 
each one and gave them each a Bible, until 
there were some mighty changes wrought in 
that section of the city. 

One Dark Night 

when the rain was falling in torrents, we were 
sitting around our feeble candle-light, reading 
our Bibles. We heard a knock on the door. 



14.^ Ok Mule Back 

It was lau\ and wo luui boon warned b>- both 
iwissionafies and iho <. hristian nati\os, to bo 
\or\" oaroful lo whom wo oponod our doors 
after night, as there were people who would as 
soon kill us as they would an animal, so wo did 
not open the door imniediateh". The knooking 
eontinued. and we heard a man's voiee asking 
us in Spanish to lot him in. M\- husband partly 
opened the door, and in iho snudl opening we 
saw a tall, dark native, lie pushed into the 
room, looking very mueh frightened. When we 
asked what he wanted, he asked if we were the 
missioiiaries. \\V told him that we were, and 
he told us that tl\ e years before he had foimd a 
Bible, and Ix^giiu reading it. He had become 
convinced of the truth of the Gospel and wished 
to talk with us. We talked and prayed with 
him, then asked iiini to conic to the meeting's. 
He s;\id his mother was very angry because he 
did not go to the church any n\ore. and he was 
afraid that if he were to come to our meetings 
the people would kill him. That was why he 
had come on such a dark, wet night to haxe a 
talk with the missionaries. We weie reminded 
of the ruler in Israel who inter\ iewed Jesus in 
the night. 

He came to the house e\ery night for two 
weeks. \\ hen we opei\ed our class in Kiiglish he 
attended. We always had a lesson from the 
Bible, and the scholars had to leani scripture 
verses. One day this man came out Ix^dly and 
Sv\id. "1 am coming to the ii\eetiiigs."' By this 
time we had several of the leading citizens of the 



1 hroiKjIi Ccniral America 



149 







Through Central America 151 

city attending our meetings. This young man 
has since been called to preach the Gospel to his 
people. Pray for him. The following is a copy 
of a note he wrote us when we left Leon. 

"I am returning your book. I thank you so much for 
it. It has been a great blessing to me. Please pray for 
me, as I feel a call to preach the Gospel. Send me Bibles 
and tracts from your land for my people." 

Others came to the class, being anxious to 
learn English. The judge of the city, doctors, 
lawyers, and many others heard the Gospel 
preached. To one young man who came to 
the class we gave a Bible in English, and one 
day he came to ask us some questions. The 
priests had told the natives we were nice people 
but were teaching error, for we taught people to 
read the Bible and the Bible was a very bad 
book, and they must not read it. But this 
precious boy was convicted of sin, and was 
seeking God. We asked him to pray the Lord 
to forgive his sins, and then to believe that God 
did it. He asked for a prayer-book, so he could 
pray. We told him we never used prayer-books ; 
we simply asked God to forgive us and save us 
from our sins. He was sweetly saved and went 
away to bring a cousin to the meetings. This 
cousin was also saved. These two were among 
our brightest pupils. They could read and 
speak English quite well in a few months. 

One morning, very early, before we were up, 
there came a knock on our door and a little 
brown-faced Indian girl appeared. She was 



15-' On Miih- Back 

about ihirioou >"oars old, and \\m'\" prott>'. She 
askixl us tci take her as a servant. She had 
nowhere to go. and had been sleeping in the 
market. As I kx^ked at that i,k\u' httk" bunvn 
taee and heard lier sior\- I k^oked up to nn- 
Heavenly Father and breathed a pra>-er that 
He woukl remember the thousands who, Hke her. 
liad nc^ hiMue and \\ere perishing. We toki her 
\\ e ANoukl take lier. and I wish nn^ readers might 
ha\e seeti that dear Httk^ faee hght up with jo\- 
because she wotiki have a home with the mis- 
sionaries. She was a very bright girk and very 
quiek to k\irn. Soon she eouki pki>" the organ 
and sing the Gospel hynms. How she did love 
to go to the meetings and to read her Bible! 

Carl's Ball and Bat 

Cdvl had a ball and a bat \\-hieh had been 
brought t'rom the homeland, and in the da>'time 
he would go out itito the small park near the 
house, gather all the bo\'s from the streets, and 
pla\' ball with thetn. The)' had ne\"er seen a 
ball ov a bat before, and it was all \er\- wonder- 
ful to them. Carl's faee would become \"er>' red 
frotu the heat, and the children thought it qtieer 
to see a red-faced bo\- with such white hair, and 
such pectiliar diings as the ball and bat. He 
^^•ollld pla> with them until lunch-time, then 
the>" would come home with him. and he would 
get his Bible, read from it, and tell them of 
jesus, and numbers of them were brought to 
God in this wav. 



Through Central America 



153 



o 



3- 

Si' 
W 

o 




Through Central America 155 

Many boys and girls came to us asking for a 
school and a home, but I am sorry to say that 
we could not possibly take them in, our house 
and means would not permit. But we are ask- 
ing God to stir up the people in the homeland to 
give till there shall be a home and school opened 
in this dark city of Leon where these precious 
jewels may be gathered in and taught the Bible, 
and the way to God. 

We were having precious meetings, and one 
day a man came saying he had walked a long 
distance to find the missionaries, to get them to 
come to his home and teach the Gospel. Hus- 
band and I went with him, going as far as pos- 
sible on the little railroad, then walking the rest 
of the way. When we arrived we felt as if 
every drop of our blood were boiling, we were so 
hot, walking so far under the tropical sun. We 
found the family gathered to hear the Word of 
God, and thought of Peter going to the house of 
Cornelius. 

"Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan. 

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man, 
Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span, 
At Calvary." 

The Lord touched these dear hearts with His 
love in a mighty way. They wept, and cried 
to Him to save them. Even the little children 
were hungry to seek the Lord. Far away from 
all Christians, in a dark land, filled with idols, 
where the powers of darkness fill the very air, 



156 On Muh Back 

were tlioso prooioiis souls, just uairiug for souio- 
oue to come v\nd tell them of a Savior's love. 
There are many thousands just like them. Dear 
reader, what will \ou do to get the gospel to 
them? Ask the Lord to show \ ou what He 
would ha\"e >oii do. 

1 shall ne\er forget the scene when we started 
to leave these people. The> clung to us. beg- 
ging lis not to lea\e them. But there were our 
own dear children at Leon, in a foreign land, far 
away from all lo\'ed ones, and with no one to 
pn^tect them, and the shadows of night were 
beginning to fall. We had to pull ourselves 
away from those pleading, soiil-hiingr>" people, 
and say g\x^d-b\'e. We promised to come back 
w^hen we could, telling them we must go back to 
our little ones, and the work in Leon. The 
father and mother had seven bright-faced boys, 
and asked lis if we would take them into our 
school, and we told them we would if we could 
but we were not able for lack of means. 

Returning it seemed as if the slow train would 
never g^t to Leon. We were tired, and our feet 
were blistered from the long walk in the terrible 
heat. But as we looked to the Lord to refresh 
our bodies and heal our sore feet, the Holy 
Spirit came sweeping through our being"s, so 
refreshing us that we hardh knew we had gone 
through such an ordeal. 

In a few days there came a call to another 
home far away in the mountains, where the 
l.x^ople were Ix^gging that the Gospel be brought 



Through Central America 157 

to them. I took a native woman with me and 
we traveled on the train as far as we could go. 
\ye purposed going to the home of some na- 
tive Christians who hved in that town, and 
who had been in the meetings at Leon, where 
we thought to rest until the sun went down, as 
the other trip had taught me not to walk far 
under the hot sun. As we passed down the 
street I heard the people calling out in Spanish, 
"Hay una Evangelista!" (Inhere is a missionary!) 
But I thought nothing of it, knowing they were 
not accustomed to seeing foreigners walking 
through their streets. 

Arriving at the house of the Christians I was 
told the people would not allow missionaries to 
come to that town. Some months before, one 
of their young men had been converted. When 
he came back and told it, men, women, and 
children, with the priests as leaders, gathered, 
and cut him to pieces in the street near the 
house where we then were. 

The dear native Christians were looking for 
the people to come at any moment and kill 
them. They declared that we all would be 
killed that day. I began praying to find out 
if I had missed the Lord's will by coming there, 
but the Lord spoke to my heart, saying all would 
be well and not to fear what the people might 
do. So we gathered inside and prayed to God 
for protection, and to convict the people of their 
awful crimes. When we arose from prayer a 
large crowd was gathered outside, watching us. 



158 On Mule Back 

The house was made of small poles stuck in the 
ground, with large cracks all around, so we could 
easily see and be seen. 

We planned to leave the house at sunset, to 
walk out to the farm where we were going to 
preach the Gospel. I told the dear ones not to 
fear, but to trust God. However, they were 
greatly frightened and said the mob would cer- 
tainly kill me when I went out. But I knew I 
had been sent there b}' the Lord, and all would 
be well. 

I Avent out and spoke to the crowd, and then 
started down the street, leading to the country-. 
When I looked around only m\- woman was with 
me. She told me the others had gone another 
wa}', hoping to miss the crowd, which I saw was 
following us. I saw some women give a boy a 
machette, and tell him to cut me with it. He 
came running toward me, talking in Spanish as 
fast as he could, and swearing at me. I went 
right ahead. He kept at my side, swearing. 
The mob followed us. We walked on until we 
came to where the road left the town, and turned 
into the country. I felt the power of God com- 
ing upon me in a way I had never felt before. 

The veins of my neck swelled, and my body 
began to shake. Then I turned toward the mob 
and began speaking to them in tongues. They 
turned and ran, until not one was to be seen. A 
little disappointed feeling came into my heart, 
I said, "Jesus, I wanted to die a martyr for you 
here in this dark land, but now the mob is gone." 



Through Central America 159 

The power still filled my being, until I could do 
nothing but worship God. The native Christ- 
ians came up. They said they had seen the peo- 
ple run, and heard them exclaim that fire fell from 
Heaven and burned them, until they could 
endure it no longer, and they had to run. I did 
not see the fire, but felt it burning in my soul in 
a mighty way. 

At The Farm 

I preached and sang until midnight, and still 
the people begged me to tell them more "good 
news" as they called it. Truly it was good news 
of great joy to those poor people who had so 
long been under the heavy yoke of the enemy. 
There was a family of fifteen, also several hired 
men, besides about twelve travelers who had 
stopped for the night. They had only one room. 
When I told them I could not preach any more 
that night, but must have some rest for my 
body, and a place where I could lie down, they 
all went into the room — family, travelers, hired 
men, some thirty people in all. They took two 
young calves and three small deer with them, 
also several hens with their little chicks. 

I decided not to sleep w4th all those people 
and animals in that room, with no ventilation — 
as the adobe houses are built without any 
windows. I told them to fix me a cot outside 
in the corridor. They said wild animals came at 
night, and I must not sleep outside. But I 
decided I would almost prefer being eaten by wild 
animals to being smothered. As I insisted, they 



160 On Mule Back 

put a cot for me outside, and I did not awaken 
to see whether any wild animals came. If any 
came, they did not molest me. 

Arising next morning I ate my breakfast off 
of banana leaves, then gathered the family for 
prayer. How the power of God did fall and fill 
every hungry heart! After prayer I told them 
I must leave them, and return home. We gath- 
ered our blankets together, and climbed into the 
ox-cart which had been brought to carry us to 
the railroad station. I was too tall for the 
cowhide covering, which was intended to pro- 
tect us from the sun, so I sat in the back and let 
my feet hang down over the end, and so rode to 
town. We sang and talked all the way, about 
the love of Jesus. Several times we stopped at 
houses by the roadside and preached to the 
people, giving them tracts and Bibles. 

A large crowd was at the station waiting for 
the train. I went to the platform and spoke to 
the crowd. They asked me to give them Bibles 
and tracts. Some of them were members of the 
mob which the night before had been ready to 
kill us for coming into their town to preach the 
Gospel. 

We arrived at Leon very tired and needing 
rest. But there were so many to be ministered 
unto and the needs were so great that I went 
right into the meetings, where God blessed my 
soul and rested my body. 



Through Central Ain erica 



161 







OM-ll 



Through Central America 163 

The Lord Rolled the Sea Away 

One day a young man who had been in the 
United States, came to see us. He spoke Eng- 
hsh well, also had been in different churches and 
had some knowledge of the Gospel. He came 
many times to read and pray with us. One day 
he asked if we would not go to the beach for a 
day's outing. We felt we could not spare the 
time, and it would be too much of a luxury for 
us. But as he insisted on bringing his machine 
and taking us, we consented to go and prepared a 
little lunch. Before going we asked if we might 
preach to the people on the road. He consented, 
so we went for the day, taking Bibles and tracts 
with us. Many were the precious souls to whom 
we spoke about the Lord Jesus, giving them the 
little printed messengers. Our hearts were 
moved with compassion as we saw the extreme 
poverty of the poor people out in the country, 
with no one to love or help them. The 
roads were almost impassable and the heat was 
intense, but at last we saw the white-caps dash- 
ing up against the shore, and felt the cool breeze 
from the ocean. We stopped some distance 
from the water and walked down to the beach. 
Many Indians were there. Some could not 
speak Spanish, but had a sign language. We 
spoke to all who could understand us, and they 
told the rest about the Gospel, for although they 
spoke Spanish, they also understood the sign 
language. 



164 On Mule Back 

There was a dressing place for bathers and a 
stand where refreshments were sold by the 
Indians, who could not speak Spanish. I sat 
down in the shade while the rest went bathing 
in the surf. Suddenly I was startled by the 
screams of my daughter, Alma. She and the 
young man were quite a distance out in the 
breakers. They were drowning, and calling for 
help. I saw them go under. My husband was 
trying to reach them, but the strong under- 
current took him down also. I prayed and 
called on God to save them. 

Running to the Indians, I tried to tell them 
to run with a rope and save them. I could not 
make them understand, but suddenly began 
talking in tongues, with signs, which I after- 
wards learned was their language. They told 
the young man that I had implored them to 
help save my daughter, husband and himself. 
They ran to help Alm.a and the young m.an, but 
they could not be seen. I started in that direc- 
tion calling on the Lord to save them. The 
sea rolled up in a great heap, and there they 
were on the sand. How it all happened I can- 
not tell. But I know the Lord rolled the sea 
away, and they were saved. They were filled 
with water and Alma was sick. But the Lord 
soon delivered her. The young man knew the 
Lord had saved them from death. He was an 
expert swimmer, but could not swim in that 
strong undercurrent, which had drawn them 
so far out before they realized the danger. 



ThroiigJi Central America 



165 




O 1^ 

fi ^ 

-^ C 
•*" rt 
'OX, 

Woo 

■M tM 

^ oiS 
rt o 



Through Central America 167 

How we did praise God for His wonderful 
deliverance! It was a mighty miracle, which 
convinced the Indians that God had delivered, 
for they saw the waters rolled up in a heap. It 
made them believe. The news of the wonderful 
miracle God had performed tor the missionaries 
soon spread about the city. It was published 
in the papers, and many who had not come before, 
came to see us and were convinced of the Gos- 
pel. Many people came from all parts of the 
Republic to hear the Gospel, and to ask for 
Bibles. 

The dear saints in the homeland sent us 
Bibles, Testaments and tracts, and the Word of 
God went forth. We cannot tell how many 
precious souls w^ere reached by the bread cast 
on the waters, but we shall know when we reach 
the beautiful land beyond, and see their dear 
faces shining with heavenly glory. We are told 
to sow beside all waters, and are promised that 
"he that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing 
precious seed, shall doubtless come again 
with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with 
him." Psalm 126:6. 

Many were the nights and times we went 
forth weeping over the sheep that were out of 
the fold, lost among the idols, vice and sin of 
every kind. It was almost more than we could 
bear when so many of the people came to us, 
and we were unable to take them all in and help 
them. We could only weep and cry to the Lord 
to help us to reach them, and to stir up the saints 
at home to give all they possibly could to aid in 



168 On Mule Back 

helping them. For this purpose we are sending 
forth this book, that funds may be raised to 
send Bibles and tracts to these people. 

It was at this time, when many were pressing 
upon us for help and our means were so limited 
that God told us to return to the homeland and 
tell the church of the great need of sending more 
Bibles, tracts and missionaries to these destitute 
fields. As we looked to the Lord and told Him 
we did not have the money to get back home, 
He spoke and told us we were to pack up and 
go to the port, and He would send the money 
for us there for our fare. So we began making 
ready. 

Another missionary and his wife came by, 
going home on furlough. They were going via 
Guatemala, believing they could save quite a 
sum of money by going that way. But the 
Lord had told us to go via Panama. We packed 
our trunks and made ready. But oh, how we did 
hate to tell our dear people we were leaving them, 
for we loved them so, and they loved and clung 
to us. We knew they would feel so badly to 
have us leave them. 

When we went to the meeting that night we 
told them the Lord had led us to return to our 
homeland, to put the great needs of their 
country before the people. They cried, both 
men and women, and pressed upon us until we 
thought we could never get ready to start. I 
had to put our suit-cases in a room and lock the 
doors so I could finish packing, for the house was 



Though Central America 



169 




Where Carl attended native school to study Spanish. Neither 
the teacher or any of the pupils could speak a word of Eng- 
lish, so he very soon acquired the Spanish. 



Through Central America 171 

full of precious souls begging to hear more of 
the Gospel, and telling us how much they loved 
us, and what a great blessing we had been to 
them. Our hearts were breaking over the 
people, for they were as sheep without a shep- 
herd. May God bless and keep them true to 
Him. 

We were packed and ready to go to the train 
when there came a big procession of people 
marching into the house. Some of them we 
had not met before, and some we had seen on 
the streets and in the markets, when we were 
preaching and giving out tracts. Many of them 
had come to our meetings, had heard and ac- 
cepted the Gospel, and had been filled with the 
blessed Holy Spirit. They brought many pres- 
ents, among them a nice leather bill-book 
for my husband, a manicuring set for Alma, 
pretty fans for me, and boxes of candy for Carl. 
Many useful presents they brought, some of 
which had cost much money, for everything is 
much more expensive there than in our country. 
Even rich people had come and brought pres- 
ents to show their appreciation of our mission- 
ary work among them. 

When the train pulled in, and we were about 
to go on board, several doctors and lawyers and 
the judge of the city came, saying they were 
going to the port with us to stay until our ship 
sailed, and there was the crowd standing outside 
waving their hands and saying, "Good-bye, don't 
forget to pray for us, and send us Bibles." Oh 



172 On Mule Back 

that scene! We shall never forget it. As the 
train started the people hung on to the side, 
Avaving their hands, and calling "Good-bye, our 
good missionaries; we love you so much." 

We had many opportunities to witness for 
Jesus and to give out literature on the way 
to the port. The people were so hungry they 
would run and beg for more tracts. 

When we arrived at the port station we were 
taken to a hotel by one of the men who had gone 
with us, and there a fine dinner was given us in 
a special dining room, and we had a nice time. 

We found we must appear before the American 
consul twice a day for several days before sail- 
ing, as we had come from a yellow fever in- 
fected region. We began to go that morn- 
ing, for the ship bound for Panama would 
come in seven days. 

We made ready to leave on that boat, but 
there was no mone}^ for the fare. As I prayed 
in my room one morning the Lord said, "Go and 
ask for your mail." I thought, "I don't believe 
the mail is opened here, but on arriving in the 
port is immediately^ sent to the different parts of 
the country." But as I prayed again the Lord 
spoke once more, "Go and ask for your mail." 
I knew it was the voice of the Lord, for He had 
wonderfully spoken to us and led us all the way, 
so I went. On asking for the mail I was told 
that no mail was coming for two weeks, and 
when it did come it would not be opened there 
but would be sent out to the different parts of 
he republic. 



Through Central America 1/3 




Women coming from the market place 



Through Central America 175 

I returned to my room, wondering. I be- 
lieved the Lord had sent me for our mail, but 
why had the postal officials said it could not be 
obtained there? Besides, there was no mail 
boat coming until after the other boat had sailed. 
But as I prayed I heard the voice of the Lord 
telling me to go again and ask for my mail. I 
waited until the next morning, then went again. 
Once more the postmaster told me the same thing, 
that it would be impossible for me to get my mail 
there when it did come. I must admit that 
I felt at a loss to know what to do, or what 
it all meant. But I couldn't doubt the voice of 
the Lord. I waited another day, and prayed 
until I was sure the Lord was speaking to me. 
Though I couldn't see how it all could work out, 
yet I knew that He knew, and had spoken. 

I went again to the postmaster and explained 
to him that we were sailing on the ship which 
was then in the harbor, and which was to leave 
in three days, but again he told me the same 
thing; there would be no mail boat in for two 
weeks, and it would be impossible to receive my 
mail before that time. I returned to my room 
and, falling upon my face, I cried to the Lord for 
help, for this seemed more than I could bear, for 
the enemy was taunting me, saying that the Lord 
was not speaking to me, that we had been de- 
ceived, that the Lord had not even told us to 
come to the port, and that our fare would cer- 
tainly not be provided. Nevertheless, the voice 
of the Lord came again to me, saying, "Ask for 
your mail tomorrow morning." 



176 On Mule Back 

When we arose the next morning we saw 
another ship at anchor in the port. It had come 
in during the night. My husband strohed down 
to the dock, and was informed that this was the 
mail boat from Panama, also that our ship was 
not to sail until the foUowing day, because the 
cargo was not yet unloaded. When he returned 
with the welcome news I began to pray again 
about the mail, feeling certain there was some- 
thing for us on that ship. Then I went again to 
see the postmaster, this time taking a Testament 
to give him. This seemed the wrong thing to 
to do, for he was a fanatical church man, and the 
Gospel was not allowed to be preached in that 
port. But we had gone unmolested all over the 
place, distributing tracts, and preaching to the 
people, and the dear natives had begged for 
Bibles and the little papers (tracts). 

Walking up to the office window, I told the 
man the Lord had spoken to me, telling me there 
was mail there for me, which had come in on 
that ship. He came to the window, began talk- 
ing about the Lord, and asked me how I knew 
the Lord had said there was mail there for us. 
I answered that we had come to port in order to 
sail on the ship then in harbor, that we did not 
have our fare, but the Lord had told us the fare 
would be provided after we reached the port. I 
was sure there was mail for us there, and would 
he please give it to me? Handing him the Testa- 
ment, I told him to read it, and learn about the 
wonderful Savior who could come into our 
hearts and talk to us, and lead us in such straight 



Through Central America 



\77 




OM-12 



Through Central America 179 

paths. He began to weep, and told me he had 
never before seen a Bible, had hated and perse- 
cuted the missionaries, had hated me when I 
came inquiring for mail, and had not even be- 
lieved in God before; but my coming so many 
times, saying the Lord had told me there was mail 
coming for me, in spite of my knowing that the 
mail ship was not due for two weeks, then the 
arrival of the mail ship before time, and the 
postponed sailing of the other vessel upon which 
I said we were to sail, had convinced him that 
God was actually speaking to me, and he promis- 
ed to try to get our mail. However, there 
were thousands of letters, and he was rather 
doubtful if he could find our mail in the midst of 
so much other, but promised that if I would re- 
turn in the afternoon he would do his best for 
me. In the afternoon, I returned for the mail, 
which I was sure would be there. The man 
came hurrying to me, and handed me two regis- 
tered letters, saying they were on the top of the 
pile of mail in the first bag he opened. Surely 
God had spoken to me, he said, and he knew 
now there was a God, and he was going to serve 
Him, so as to have Him speak to him, too. And 
very earnestly he promised to read the Testa- 
ment, also he asked for a Bible for his wife, 
and tracts for his friends. 

When I opened the two letters there, lacking 
twenty-five dollars, was the amount for our fare. 
We sailed the following morning. Later I went 
into my stateroom to find out the exact amount 
of money we had, to make sure how much was 



180 On Mule Back 

lacking for the entire trip to the homeland. Sure 
enough, there was exactly twenty-five dollars 
lacking. Again I looked to the dear Lord for 
help to believe for the needed amount, and again 
He spoke, telling me to open my Bible. I did so, 
and my eyes fell upon this scripture: 

"And the Lord, He it is that doth go 
before thee; He will be with thee; He will 
not fail thee, neither forsake thee; fear 
not, neither be dismayed." — Deut. 31:8. 

Looking at the little scripture calendar hang- 
ing on the wall I saw in the space for the day on 
which we would land in Panama the identical 
verse I had just read. Strengthened and en- 
couraged by this, I felt that Jesus would make 
it all right, and that we were simply to trust and 
obey. 

Upon arriving in Panama we were taken to 
the American Bible House, where we were treat- 
ed with the greatest kindness. Dear Mr. Duffey 
and his wife gave us much valuable informa- 
tion about the whole of Central America, as they 
were in touch with every mission station, and 
had themselves been missionaries there for many 
years. 

We had to wait three days for the ship to New 
Orleans, and we sweetly rested in the Lord and 
trusted Him to supply that twenty-five dollars. 

One day we met a young Mexican on the 
street, whom we had known in Nicaragua. He 



Through Central America 181 

was a traveling salesman from St. Louis, Mo. 
We had given him a Bible and talked to him 
about giving his heart to the Lord, and he had 
been very much interested in our work in 
Nicaragua. We invited him to visit us at the 
Bible House, and in the ev^ening he came. We 
read the Word of God and had prayer, and he 
told us of his having persecuted the missionaries 
in Mexico. He had never seen a Bible before 
he met us, but in the United States he had learn- 
ed that missionaries did a good work among the 
people, so he no longer hated them. He said 
he was glad to have met us and heard us preach 
the Gospel. ''In return for this Bible which you 
have given me," he said, 'and the way in which 
you have talked to me, I feel I should do some- 
thing for you, and the Lord," and he passed 
twenty-five dollars across the table to me. 
Praise the Lord! there was the rest of our fare 
home. Surely God does temper the wind to 
the shorn lamb, and take care of His little ones, 
leading them in and out where they can find 
pasture. 

We sailed the next day. Many were the 
precious souls reached by us with the Gospel 
while we were in Panama; also on land and on 
sea after we left there. Shall we not praise God 
forever for all His goodness to us, and for the 
privilege of being called to preach to the nations 
of the earth? 



182 On Mule Back 

Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest truly is ripe; 
Put ye in the sickle, and reap with all your might; 
Put ye in the sickle, for the Lord calleth thee; 
Put ye in the sickle, and to Him, ever faithful be; 

Put ye in the sickle, ye worker of the living God; 
Put ye in the sickle, in every land ye tread ; 
Put ye in the sickle, for the day is surely nigh ; 
Put ye in the sickle, for Jesus cometh from on high. 

— Given in tongues, with interpretation. 



Through Central America 



183 




bA 



to 

c 



-M 

s 



LEAVING NICARAGUA FOR PANAMA 

We sailed on the Steamship San Juan. After 
placing our things in the stateroom we went on 
deck and sat down. A little South American 
woman came over to me and asked, ''Are you a 
missionary?" I told her I was. "Well," she 
said, ''I thought you must be a missionary, tor 
no one else would be away down here so far 
away from their homeland." 

She had been in the States studying to be a 
nurse, and had been saved through a Salvation 
Army meeting on the street. She took my arm 
and said, ''Come right over here. There is a 
poor blind man from Salvador, and he badly 
needs help." 

We thanked God, for here was another chance 
to cast our bread upon the waters, another 
hungry soul reaching out for the truth. 

We took some tracts and Testaments and 
went over to the man. He said he had heard a 
traveling missionary preach the Gospel several 
years ago in his own country, and had longed to 
know more about it; now here we were to tell 
him. So he praised the Lord, and we wept and 
told him Jesus loves us so much that He never 
fails to answer the prayer of an honest soul. 

We gave him a Testament and some tracts 
on Salvation and Divine Healing and the dear 
little woman read them to him. Day after day 
he asked for more to be read to him. The wo- 



186 On Mule Back 

man asked if we could not give her some to take 
home to Ecuador to her people. 

There was only one man on the ship who did 
not take tracts and read them and ask for more. 
This man said he had not read the Bible since he 
was a child. Now he was too old. As we look- 
ed at him and saw the hardness in his face, a 
great pity came into our hearts, and we asked 
the Lord to have mercy on him and save him. 

We arrived in one port in Costa Rica on Sep- 
tember loth, Spain's Independence Day. The 
whole country was celebrating. Our ship would 
have to wait here several days, perhaps a week, 
the captain said, because all the people got 
drunk on that day, and it would take several 
days for them to sober up. We arrived at six 
in the morning. The noise from the cannon 
and other things was terrible. We knew about 
how much time we had to make connections in 
Panama, and that we could not stay in this port 
over one day without missing connections. So 
we prayed that God would make these people 
unload the ship that day so that we, might go on. 

At twelve, when we were having lunch, our 
ship was moving out to sea. The men had come 
with their lighters and unloaded several tons of 
the cargo, and we were on our way. The dear 
old man who would not read the tract, ate at our 
table. He said he had lived there and in 
Panama for fifty years, and that was the first 
time he ever knew them to do such a thing. He 
knew it was because we prayed. So God was 
good not to leave him without a witness. 



Through Central America 187 

A man and his wife were going to South 
America. They took tracts and Testaments 
along which we gave them, and said they were 
glad to have the light on the Second Coming of 
the Lord, and on Divine Healing. 

There were people on board who were going 
to Japan, China, India, England and the United 
States. All took with them the Word of God 
which we had cast upon the waters. Two 
young men on their way to school in New York, 
took along Testaments to read. They said 
they no longer believed in the Church of Rome, 
and wanted to read the Bible. 

Another boy on his way to South America 
came to talk with us about the Bible. He said 
he wanted to read the Bible but had never had 
the opportunity. So he sat on deck and read it. 
How he did rejoice to know the truth! He told 
us how he had gone to the different temples of 
the idols and saints seeking peace, but had 
come away from them all without receiving any 
help. But now he knew the truth, and wanted 
to carry the good news to his people who were 
still in the darkness. He said, "Why don't 
more missionaries come and tell us the truth? 
Won't you go back to your homeland and tell 
them of our needs and the darkness we are in?" 

Stewardesses, waitresses, captains and officers 
all heard the story of the Gospel, through the 
bread we cast upon the waters. One officer said 
he was glad that someone thought of the men 
at sea. They were always going and had no time 
to attend church and hear the Gospel. He had 



188 On Mule Back 

had Christian parents, but they were dead. His 
heart was touched and . with tears running down 
his cheeks he said, ''May God bless you for giving 
me this Testament. I shaU read it, and pray 
every day, as I want to meet my dear mother 
in Heaven." He had been at sea twelve years, 
and that was the first time anyone had said a 
word to him about salvation. 

The doctor on the ship was so interested he 
would leave his office for hours and come and 
talk with us. He had been on that line many 
years and he had been shocked to see the con- 
dition in the Latin-American countries, and the 
church at home seemed to be doing nothing. 
He took tracts and papers and talked with us 
about prophecy. He said he knew the Lord 
was coming soon. We invited him to meetings 
with us at Colon. He came to the Bible House 
and to the meetings and said he was going to 
a Pentecostal meeting when he returned to the 
States. 

While in Panama we visited the Sea Wall 
M. E. Church, where there is a work among the 
natives. But all who come to the school have 
to pay. That leaves the poor population wholly 
untouched by the Gospel. We looked over the 
field and found it a great white harvest field, 
where laborers are badly needed. In all these 
parts the people are hungry for the Gospel. 

There is a little union church in Colon in 
which a few people are praying for a revival. 
It is a wonderful opportunity for a band of 
workers to go and hold evangelistic meetings. 



TJirough Central America 



189 







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Through Central America 191 

There are many English-speaking people in 
these parts, but Pentecost has not been preached. 
We believe God will raise up workers and send 
them to this place. Besides the people who 
live here, there are hundreds of ships coming 
and going to all parts of the world. Many souls 
could be reached. 

As I stood on the beach one day, 

And saw the breakers roll in from the way, 

The great waters piled up high — 

I cried, "O, God! open the flood gates of mercy 

Send rivers of Thy Spirit, don't pass this people by". 



SAILING FROM PANAMA 

Finding a ship that was to sail for New 
Orleans we went aboard and set forth, carrying 
with us many more tracts and Testaments so 
that we might cast bread upon the waters among 
other people. 

Soon after leaving the port I noticed a man on 
board whom we had met in another place. He 
was a gambler, who traveled and gambled on 
ships all the time. We had spoken to him of 
the Bible and about the Lord, but he had said 
he did not think anyone ought to talk about the 
Bible and religion, as such talk would make 
people lose their minds. We were only 
getting people stirred up, and that wasn't good. 
I heard him tell the captain we were mission- 
aries, and that wherever we went we talked 
about God and the Bible, but he hoped we would 
not be allowed to do so on this trip. 

Some of the people looked so very aristocratic 
that the enemy said to me, "You had better not 
give out tracts and Testaments on this boat, as 
the people will not listen, for they will think you 
are a fanatic." But I felt I must let my light 
shine here as well as in other places. So I went 
to my stateroom to pray. I opened my Bible to 
read and saw in it a little tract, containing these 
words: 

"Have you overcome the worldly opinions 
of the sect which is everywhere spoken 



Throtigh Central America 193 




An Indian woman who came to the meeting and was saved. 



OM-13 



ThroiigJi Central America 195 

against by taking your stand with it? 
What would Jesus have you do ? Have you 
done that? If the world has nothing to 
say against you, Jesus will have nothing to 
say for you. His grace is sufficient. Ask 
Him." 

That was a message to my heart. I said, "Lord, 
I will go through this ship and give out tracts to 
everyone. Now, Lord, you bless every dear 
heart, and open to them the Gospel." 

As I passed around the deck giving out tracts, 
a man and his wife asked what church I belonged 
to. I told them I belonged to 

*'The Church of the First Born." 

Then I told them about the Pentecostal people, 
and how we had received the Baptism of the 
Holy Spirit, as the people did on the day of 
Pentecost, and told them that God was pouring 
out His Spirit on the earth, and that Jesus was 
coming again soon. They were Seventh-Day 
Adventist missionaries from Colombia, South 
America, coming home on furlough. They 
had been on the field four years, but had only 
been selling their literature. Nobody had 
been saved, but they thought that when 
they went back again they would be able 
to do something, as the people would have an 
understanding of their religion and the keeping 
of the Sabbath Day. We could see their lives 
were empty, and that they knew nothing about 
worshiping God in Spirit and in truth. 



196 On Mule Back 

We had many talks together about the law of 
Moses and the ten commandments. We showed 
them we are dead to the law through the body of 
Christ, and that w^e should serve in newness of 
Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Oh, 
how these dear hearts did respond to the Word 
of God! They had been reading the many 
different books of their denomination, but did 
not have a Bible. We asked them to read the 
W^ord of God that would bring Spirit and Life 
into their lives and we gave them a nice Bible. 
As we separated in New Orleans, the^^ took my 
hand and said, ''Thank God for sending 3'ou on 
this ship. We felt empty and dr}^ and now we 
know what is the trouble. \A'e shall read and 
pray until we are filled with the blessed Holy 
Spirit, and w^hen we return to our mission-field 
we can preach the Gospel to the people." 

A family coming from South America took 
tracts and Testaments and called for more. 
They said they were Lutherans, had been raised 
in that church, felt a lack in their lives, 
and wanted to have the power and glory of God 
in their souls. The^^ believed that Jesus was 
coming soon. 

Every time we went into the parlor and sat 
down we had a congregation, for the poor 
people were so hungry they would come and ask 
us to tell them more about this wonderful way. 

A great hurricane was sweeping the Gulf. A 
wireless message had been received that the 
storm was terrible, and warning us to prepare 



Through Central America 197 

tor it before leaving the port. The blackness 
was awful on the waters as we went out. As we 
moved slowly out of the inner harbor, some bat- 
tleships were having target practice at sea 
1 wo submarines partly submerged, were slowlv 
moving along to keep ships from coming too 
close to where the sailors were shooting. 

The Lord said to me, "Just as those sub- 
marines are placed here to protect the ships 
Irom the shooting, so I will place My angels 
around this ship and the storm shall not molest 
^ o u . 

"Only believe and rest in Me." 

The passengers were frightened, and the captain 
gave orders to have the storm doors and windows 
put in, and the ship made ready to meet the ter- 
rible hurricane But on we sailed, and the storm 
moved on m front of us, all the way to New 
Urleans. _ Only once did we get into it a little for 
a few minutes. The rain came down in floods, 
the w^nd blew with great force, thick darkness 
settled down over the ship, and we were tossed 
by the great waves that arose. Many became 
sea-sick and ran to their staterooms for life- 
preservers. The captain gave orders to have 
the life boats m readiness. 

As we passed into our staterooms, not to o-et 
the little cork-and-canvas life preservers that 
were 13'ing there, but to get in touch with the One 
Great Life-Preserver, who said He would give 
His angels charge over us, there came into our 



198 On Mule Back 

hearts a sweet rest and peace. After prayer we 
arose and went on deck. As I passed through 
the door I met the captain, who said, "I have 
been looking for you and your husband, that you 
might pray for our ship to be saved, as there is 
no other hope." He himself lifted up his hand 
and asked God to drive back the storm. Just 
then the blackness swept off the decks, the ship 
straightened up, and the sun smiled down upon 
us. Surely God giveth His angels charge over us, 
that we should not dash our feet against a stone. 

"Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee, 

Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee." 

From that time on we w^ere sailing just be- 
hind the big black hurricane. A ship that had 
been following us was caught in the storm, and 
for three days and nights they were lost and 
had no hope of being saved. A young man 
from this ship rode on the train with us from 
New^ Orleans to St. Louis. He told us of the 
terrible things they suffered. How they all 
had life-preservers on many times, and were 
ready to get into the life-boats, as they thought 
the ship would go down. 

On our ship every passenger, officer and mem- 
ber of the crew took tracts and Testaments and 
read them. The captain told us he was glad to 
have someone on the ship who knew how to 
pray. On the previous trip he brought some 
women from Colon who were dope fiends. The 
whole boat wag in a terrible uproar all the 



Through Central America 199 

way, and he feared God would let them all ro 
down for such wickedness. He himself knew 
somethmg of the power of God. He took a 
Bib e and tracts and asked for some of our 
books for the ship's library. Shall we not give 
these men some good books to read at sea? 

The gambler, whom I heard say we were al- 
ways talkmg about the Lord, came to me and 
said, 1 want to get some papers and a Bible 
1 have always been a wicked man, but since I 
have been on this boat I have made up my mind 
to give my heart to God and live different " He 
said he had a Christian mother who taught him 
to kneel at her knee and say his evening prayer 
and he wanted to meet her in Heaven, for he 
knew she was there. 

One of the professors from the North-Western 
University was on board. He had been traveling 
through all the Latin-American countries, gath- 
ering information for the new history he was 
writing. He came to talk with us, saying he was 
interested in mission work. We gave him all 
the information we could about the different 
parts of the country we had visited. He said, 
^J^^ow you people have something I haven't! 
What is It?" He was a member of the Presby- 
terian church, and had been since he was a very 
young child. His father was a minister, so he 
had always been brought up in the church. 

As we read the Bible to him and prayed with 
him,_ telling him of the great outpouring of the 
bpirit of God in these last days, and the soon 



200 On Mule Back 

coming of Jesus, he wept like a child, and said 
he was ready for all God had for him. When he 
returned to Chicago he would go to a Pentecostal 
mission, as he knew this was the truth of God. 
He was a very sweet spirited man, open to the 
Spirit of the Lord. He took with him many 
tracts on the Baptism of the Spirit and the Second 
Coming of Jesus. 

A young man, on his way to school in the 
States, asked for a Bible, saying he had never 
seen one, but had a great desire to read one. 
Since hearing us talk so much about it, he 
thought it must be a wonderful Book. He took 
a Bible to school with him, also tracts and papers. 
He was a native of Costa Rica. 

As we were leaving the ship at New^ Orleans 
people came for more Testaments and tracts 
to carry away with them. One brother and 
sister, very wealthy people, traveling for pleas- 
ure, took man}' of the little messengers, the sis- 
ter saying that when she reached her home in 
Oklahoma she was going to prepare herself for 
missionary work. She was tired of the life 
she had been living, and having seen the awful 
need of the Central American people, she could 
never be happy again until she went to help 
them. 

In New Orleans we gave out hundreds of 
tracts and found many hungry souls. I vis- 
ited some of the missions there, in search of 
Pentecostal people, but they told us there were 
none there. Such a needy city! May the 
God of Heaven stir our hearts until we are 



Through Central America 201 

awakened and go forth into every city of the 
Union with this message of the hour, and the 
people are reached and the Holy Spirit is poured 
out upon the earth. 

On board the train for St. Louis, we found 
many hungry hearts ready for the truth, having 
never heard it before. In the Union Station, 
St. Louis, we found others who were hungry. 
They took the tracts and went away pleased to 
have them. Even in our own city we found 
people who were eager to hear the Word of God. 
Many were the precious souls reached by the 
Bread upon the waters, which we freely cast forth. 

We traveled from Granite City, Illinois, to 
Los Angeles, California, giving out tracts and 
Testaments. From Los Angeles we sailed to 
Central America and gave out the Word in 
every port we came to in Mexico, Central 
America and Panama. From Panama to New 
Orleans and Granite City we distributed the 
Word to thousands. We look back over our 
journey and see a long white line of Bread that 
was cast upon the waters, reaching our home 
in Granite City, where also God is working. 

"On the resurrection morning, when we rise to meet 
our Lord, 
When His glory and His victory we shall share, 
With un-numbered blood-washed millions we'll go 
shouting through the skies, 
And His bride ascends to meet Him in the air. 

"When the roll is called up yonder, 

We'll be filled with joy and wonder, 
When we see the blood-washed number; 

Some from every tribe and nation will be there." 



THE NEEDS OF CENTRAL AMERICA 

There is a land not far away. It lies on our 
own continent. It is a land of tropical beauty, 
where cocoanut palms wave their tall green 
branches in the breeze, and where flowers bloom 
the year around. The banana, pineapple, or- 
ange, and many other tropical trees and plants 
yield their fruit in rich abundance. The chatter 
of innumerable parrots and the sweet songs of 
many birds are heard from the great tall trees 
of the forests. Scantily-clad brown-faced boys 
and girls run about. Seeing it, one is made to 
say, "What a beautiful country!" 

But, ah! As one advances inland, leaving the 
pretty harbor of Corinto, on the Pacific coast, 
the signs of the enemy's work are on man and 
beast. 

There is desolation everywhere. The poor 
people are too weak to withstand the strong 
rival with whom they have had to battle so 
long. Homes are broken up. Mothers with 
their little children are crying for help. Their 
cries are heard on every side. Powers of dark- 
ness sweep over the whole country. 

The poor are driven like animals to the plan- 
tations to work for a few cents a day, not enough 
to sustain life. They are paid in advance for 
the season's work. The wage is so small the 
family soon spend it all. Then they are arrested 
and made to work for what they have already 



Through Central America 203 

received. Even mothers are put into the coffee 
and banana fields to work in the hot sun. On 
the poor tired women go with their babies 
strapped to their backs all day long, with noth- 
ing to eat but a tortilla (a corn cake baked 
without seasoning of any kind). 

In the evening the poor tired people make their 
way to their little huts, which are made of a 
few sticks driven into the ground and covered 
with straw or palm leaves. There they grind 
corn for tortillas, the children carrying water in 
little buckets made of gourds that grow on trees, 
or in a jar made of clay. Their homes are as 
dirty as pig-pens, for the animals live in the 
house with the family. 

As you travel through the country you find 
the very poor, who live in the mountains, far 
away from the cities, often whole families, 
without clothes. If they wear anything at all, 
it will be a piece of cloth woven from grass pinned 
around their bodies with a thorn, for they never 
saw a pin or button. Many boys and girls four- 
teen or fifteen years old have never worn clothes. 

Both in the cities and in the country women 
are beasts of burden, for the women or the 
donkeys furnish the transportation, the men do 
not work much. The women work in the 
markets and little stores, and carry great loads 
of sugar, fruit, water, etc., on their heads in 
the hot sun. The streets are full of children 
that never were in school. They grow up to be 
lazy, fight with each other, and steal. When 



204 On Mitlc Back 

3'ou have one around who is not saved you have 
to keep everything under lock and key. 

More than two-thirds of the population are of 
illegitimate birth. Men and women Vive together 
and raise families, yet are never married. One 
of the difficult things the missionar^^ has to do is 
see that they marry and live clean li^'es. 

The priests charge so much money to perform 
the ceremony that the poor cannot pay it, so 
they live on year after year in this way; but 
they have to pay so much to the priests every 
year to get them to forgi^^e their sin of adultery, 
in that way the Church of Rome gets more from 
them than the}" would to marry them. The priests 
prey upon the superstitions of the people to 
extract mone}^ from them at all points. The 
natives' religion is a mere form of outward ex- 
ercises. 

For over 400 years the whole of Mexico, 
Central and South America, as Avell as the West 
Indies, have been under the heavy 3'oke of 
Romanism. The Spaniards came into the coun- 
try and, driving the natives at the point of the 
sword, baptized them into the Roman Church, 
and took away their language and liberty. The}" 
compelled them to carry timber and stone trom 
inland and build temples for the Roman Church. 

In Leon, which is the largest city of the Re- 
public of Nicaragua, and where we have our 
work, there are between se\'ent3" and eight}- 
thousand people and forty-two temples. And 
when one sees those old temples almost ready 
to tumble down, and co^■ered with moss and 



Tliroiigh Central America 



205 




I am just a brown-faced Indian ffirl hut T ^.o^^- + i 
to read God's Word. Wil, you sen!'™iss"onarieT."o .'each "s" 
inere are thousands just as I am. 



Through Central America 207 

grass centuries old, one feels that Rome is cer- 
tainly coming- to the end of herself in these 
countries. The people are rising up now and 
calling for schools, and for freedom of the press 
and are crying, "Away with the Church! It 
has never done anything for us." Many thou- 
sands are becoming free-thinkers. 

Nicaragua is the only Republic of Central 
America that has Church and State united. A 
great fight is now on for their separation. There 
are over one million people in this Republic 
alone without the Gospel. Let us pray God to 
speed the day when these reforms shall be 
wrought and the Gospel be given the people. 

Nicaragua saw her first missionary sixteen 
years ago. It has been the last of the Republics 
to receive the Gospel. The persecutions were 
so severe that the missionaries had to leave in 
a few weeks. But, thank God! some of the 
people accepted the glad news and have stood 
true through flood and flame. But there are 
very few missionaries there as yet, and thousands 
are without the knowledge of a Savior who died 
for them. 

All these countries are being flooded with New 
Ihought, Russeflism, Christian Science, The- 
osophy, and Spiritualism. Many are coming 
into these things now, for the people are fast 
turning from Romanism. They are like little 
hungry birds with wide-open mouths ready to 
accept any poisonous thing presented. Are we 
the true followers of Jesus Christ, going to 
sleep on and fail to wake up to this great op- 



208 On Mule Back 

portunity? Let us go forth with the old-time 
Gospel of Pentecostal power, that will drive the 
enemy from the land, and give these dear people 
the truth. 

At one place where we were having meetings 
the people asked us why missionaries had not 
come to them before. They said, "We saw the 
first one sixteen years ago, but he was so perse- 
cuted he had to leave us in a few weeks, and only 
a few heard the Gospel, and we have been in 
darkness for so long. Oh, if some one had only 
told us before the way of life!" 

Many children were brought to us to be placed 
in school, so that they might learn to read and 
write, and study the Bible. But as yet we have 
been unable to open a school. My heart has 
been torn as I have seen the little children 
growing up in such ignorance, and especially 
the young girls. This country, like all other 
countries without the Gospel, regards the women 
and girls as no more than animals, and they 
are the prey to every horrible crime that any- 
one wishes to inflict upon them. The little 
girls are often sold into lives of shame by their 
parents for a few dollars. We knew one mother 
who sold her four young daughters. One of 
them found that she was to be sold so she ran 
away and hid in the mountains, but they hunted 
until they found her, then they bound her and 
carried her away, dripping with blood where she 
had been beaten with clubs and stoned with 
stones. The man that took her was, I am sorry 
to say, an American. It is only the precious 



Through Central America 209 

Blood of Jesus that can change the human 
heart, that is deceitful above all things, and 
desperately wicked. Jer. 17:9. 

Many foreigners have come here for money, 
and do not care much how they get it. Some 
have gold mines, others have plantations, many 
of them are Americans. They are making 
every sacrifice for the gold that perisheth. 
Shall not we, then, who have the treasure of 
Heaven, break the Bread of Life to these dear 
hungry souls ere they perish? 

There came to us early one morning a bright- 
faced Indian girl about thirteen years old. Her 
parents were dead, her sisters were living lives 
of shame and they had driven the poor little 
one out from them. She had been sleeping in 
the markets and parks and was crying in the 
street. Some one told her to come to us for we 
were missionaries and we would help her. She 
said she would be our servant and do anything, 
that she might have a place where she could be 
sheltered from the wicked men. She is only one 
of the many thousands that are here in this dark 
land crying for some one to help them. Unless 
we take them in they will be destroyed by sin. 
Many are found dead, having been killed to 
hide the crime of some wicked person. It is in 
behalf of these suffering ones that this little 
message is sent on its way in the Name of Jesus. 

We are having blessed meetings. Many are 
coming out to hear the good news. Some have 
already received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. 
A native brother that has been saved has gone 

OM-14 



210 On Mule Back 

out to another place to preach, and the power 
of God is falhng. Several have received the 
Hol}^ Spirit, and others have been blessed in 
soul and healed in body. 

Soon after coming into the country God gave 
me a vision of the blessed Latter Rain falling all 
over Central America. So I ask you, dear child of 
the Lord, to pra}' that the people in the home- 
land will be stirred up to come up to the help of 
the Lord against the mighty. ALiny mission- 
aries have gone to China, India, Africa, and the 
Islands of the Sea, but few have come to this 
countr\\ Let us awake and pray that the Lord 
will send forth laborers, and that the means will 
be pro\ided for their support, and that this 
very needy land shall hear the blessed Gospel 
stor}^ There are a few faithful soldiers of the 
cross laboring here, but the battle is hard and 
long. 

Some have fallen, and their comrades have 
laid them away on the green hillside to await 
their reward at the coming of the One who said : 
"He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathered 
fruit unto life eternal." — John 4:36. 

But there is a great door open, and the enem^' 
is flooding in with all sorts of implements of war. 
There is urgent need of more soldiers and sup- 
plies. Just as Uncle Sam was able to send men 
and means for the great conflict in Europe, and 
so defeat the enem\', so our Captain, who never 
lost a battle, is able to send His soldiers, to de- 
feat the enemv and drive him from the ranks. 



Through Central America 



211 







One Indian who found Jesus and loves his Bible 



Through Central America 213 

and to send great showers of blessing upon the 
dry and thirsty land. 

Just as some returned from the European 
battle-front to call for help from their country- 
rnen, so we send out the cry to our brothers and 
sisters in Christ to let them know the great needs 
here, that they may join in a petition to the 
Throne of Grace for Help. 

The fight is on, the battle sound is ringing out, 
The cry to arms is heard afar and near, 

The Lord of hosts is marching on to victory. 
The triumph of the right will soon appear'. 

The fight is on O, Christian soldier, 

And face to face in stern array. 
With armor gleaming and colors streaming. 

The right and wrong engage today. 



THE INDIANS OF NICARAGUA 

(Extract from Article by Brother Schoenich) 

From the time that Gil Gonzaloz de Avile 
reached the peaceful shores of the Chontales — 
Nicaragua — penetrating to the borders of the 
great lakes, the Indian has been made to suffer 
from the hands of the so-called enlightened 
races. When the above gentleman set his feet 
on Nicaraguan soil, the land contained some 
3,000,000 peaceful and industrious Indians. In 
less than ten years 2,500,000 of them had per- 
ished in battle, were worked to death in the 
mines, or had starved in the mountain fast- 
nesses. 

In 1529 the Indians revolted, and after six 
terrible battles, the Spaniards succeeded in de- 
feating them; the Indian chiefs were thrown to 
bloodhounds, who tore them to pieces. The 
masses were subjected to heavy tributes and se- 
vere tasks, and were driven like cattle by their 
cruel conquerors. Whoever resisted was ruth- 
lessly tortured, towns that rebelled were de- 
stroyed and the people put to the sword. The 
Indians were reduced to the most abject slavery, 
their property was taken, and they were branded 
like cattle with hot irons. This cruel practice 
prevailed for years, and the miserable remnant 
of Indians who were still permitted to live, 
moistened their native soil with their bloody 
sweat, or dragged out a painful existence in the 



Through Central Ainerica 215 

mines or gold placers. Coffee, rubber, sugar and 
cocoa were not then sought as today. 

In 1810, when the first movement toward 
freedom began to be realized, an impartial ob- 
server unhesitatingly estimated the entire ab- 
original population of the country at about 
90,000 souls. The real Indian is fast going out of 
existence. The Ladinos, a class of mixed Span- 
ish and Indian, soon may be all that is left of the 
Indian. 

A fear of the white man has been planted in 
the Indian by these things. This makes it hard 
for the missionary. When one visits their vil- 
lages, the children and women run and hide, and 
sometimes the men too. Only when one is well 
acquainted will they show friendliness. To 
reach them, a missionary must live among them, 
show them love and kindness and prove by word 
and deed that they are their friends, and desire 
to bring them to the true light of our Savior 
Jesus Christ. 

These poor Indians are much oppressed. A 
planter will make a contract with a man for him- 
self and oftentimes his woman or wife (they are 
seldom married) and all his children, to pick 
coffee, etc., giving him money on the contract 
for his living. When the planter is ready this 
man and his family must appear and work, 
gathering the crop, receiving twelve to twenty 
cents per day. If he does not appear, soldiers 
are sent after him, and he is brought at the point 
of the bayonet with his hands tied behind him 



216 On Mule Bock 

and made to work until his debt is paid. The 
contract may be made as far as twelve months 
ahead, and likely the man has used up all that 
his contract calls for. He then seeks work else- 
where, or even contracts himself to another 
planter. 

I know a man who has been tr^ang for four or 
five years to get free from his "patron," as the 
planter is called. Because he is a good worker 
the planter will not release him unless he pays 
four or five times more than he owes. The man 
is interested in the Gospel. We are praying 
God to liberate him and make him a true servant 
for our Lord Jesus Christ. 

May God help the Church of Christ to awake 
to see the awful condition of these people, who 
are also compelled to pay their church dues by 
law and by force. I know a woman who was 
back in her church dues. They took all that she 
had, which was a few chickens. 

Friend, will you not take these dear people on 
your heart in prayer and intercession? God can 
and does save poor Indians. We have seen His 
work in the lives of some. Brother, Sister, 
awake! Our Lord is at hand, and what is done 
must be done quickly. "Whatsoever He saith 
unto you, do it." 

There is also a remnant of Indians in remote 
parts of the Republic known as the Suma and 
Mosquito tribes. These Indians have not come 
under the influence of the Church of Rome. 
They do not speak the Spanish language. There 



ThrougJi Central Atnerica 217 

is more English than Spanish spoken among 
them. For more than half a century the Mora- 
vian missionaries have worked among them. 
They have several missions and churches scat- 
tered along the Atlantic coast, and up some of 
the large rivers. The Moravian Mission has 
translated the New Testament into the 
Mosquito language. 



^'WHERE IS THE WHITE MAN'S BOOK 
OF HEAVEN?" 

In 1831, four Indian chiefs from Idaho made 
their way over the Rockies and were found on 
the streets of St. Louis, asking, "Where is the 
white man's Book of Heaven?" 

General Clark befriended them, took them 
around the city, where they were shown every- 
thing of interest, and they were treated with the 
utmost kindness. Finally two of the chiefs fell 
ill and died, and when the remaining Indians 
were preparing to return to their own tribes, the 
general gave a feast for them. At the banquet, 
in a farewell address to General Clark and 
friends, one of the two Indians poured forth his 
burden of sorrow in words of pathetic eloquence, 
as follows : 

"I came to you over the trail of many moons 
from the setting sun. I came with an eye 
partly open for my people, who sit in great 
darkness, but I go back with both eyes closed. 
How can I go back blind to my blind people? 
I made my way to you with strong arms, through 
many enemies, and through strange lands, that 
I might carry back to my people much knowl- 
edge, for my people sent me to get the white 
man's Book of Heaven. 

"You took me to see many strange things, and 
to places where you allow your women to dance. 



Through Central America 



219 




An Indian woman whose attention was attracted and picture 
taken without her knowledge, Indians are very superstitious 
and are afraid to have their pictures taken. 



Through Central' America 221 

as we do not ours, but the Book was not there, 
and now we are going back the long trail to our 
people in the dark land. You make my feet 
hea\y with many gifts, and my mocassins will 
grow old carrying them, but the Book is not 
among them. What shall I do? Shall my 
people die in darkness? When I go to them, 
without the white man's Book of Heaven, and 
tell them I could not get it, they will rise up, one 
by one, and go out, to return no more, for it is 
for that Book that they have been awaiting my 
return. How can I return to my people with- 
out the Book?" 

It is said that the city was searched for a 
Bible in this man's language, but there was none 
to be found, and the Indians went their way. 
This incident was told in a Methodist Episcopal 
conference, and an appeal was made for some 
to carry the Gospel to the Indians. Two young 
men just starting in the ministry were present, 
and they arose and said they would go. They 
married two lovely young women, and 
loaded an ox-wagon with their belongings and 
with Bibles translated into the language of the 
Indians to whom they were going. Many 
weeks of strenuous travel passed before they 
reached their destination with the w^hite man's 
Book of Heaven. 

The first two white w^omen to cross the 
Rockies were these two young brides, with their 
husbands. They spent their lives preaching 
the Gospel to the Indians, hundreds of whom 



222 On Mule Back 

were brought to Jesus through this faithful 
ministry. 

Shall we not learn a great lesson from this 
story? Shall we not, with all our modern con- 
veniences and greater opportunities, rise up and 
get the message to the great masses of humanity 
before Jesus comes? 

One time, while preaching to a large crowd of 
natives in Central America, I told them of the 
great love of God, and how He had saved us, 
and put His great love in our hearts which was 
why we were there to preach to them and tell 
them of that love. When I finished, an old man 
arose. He said he was eighty-four years old, 
and this was the first time he had heard the 
Gospel. Then he asked "How long have you 
people of the United States known of this won- 
derful love of God?" I answered that we had 
always known of Jesus, that thousands knew of 
Him, and were serving Him, and that I had been 
saved about fifteen years. The old man then 
asked why, if we had known of this great Savior 
so long, we had not come sooner to tell his 
people about Him, for all his relatives had died, 
and had never heard the Gospel. He continued, 
"If I had known this Gospel and the wonderful 
love and power of God to save us from all sin, 
and if you had known nothing of it, I would 
have come to you." 

When I began to make preparations to leave 
their village they held on to my dress and to my 
arms, begging me not to leave them, with no 



Through Central America 223 

one to teach them about the Bible, and they 
would not let me go. Finally I had to pull my- 
self from them and go for my train. As far 
down the track as I could see, those dear 
ones were waving and calling me to return 
to them. Even now I can see those beckoning 
hands and hear those voices calling, although I 
am now far away in my homeland. 

What? Shall they perish without knowing 
of God's great love and of His power and willing- 
ness to bless them and lift them up from the 
awful darkness of sin and idolatry which they 
are in? I wish my readers might get a peep into 
the land where the true God is unknown, and 
where there are no Bibles to guide the people 
into the right path, I am sure they would give, 
and so help others, who have been called, to go. 



224 On Mule Back 

Do You Know What I Would Do ? 

If you had been born in a distant land, 

Far over the deep wide sea; 
If you had been born on a foreign strand, 

And I, in America free ? 
If you were I, and I were you, 
Do you know what I would do? 

If you had been born with a swarthy skin. 
And people looked on you with scorn: 

While I know nothing is black but sin. 

And the soul may be white as the lily at morn: 

If I had a chance to uplift you, 

Do you know what I would do? 

If you were an orphan, and homeless too. 
And never had heard of the Lord ; 

While I had been taught from earliest days 
To love and obey His Word ; 

If you were poor, and ignorant too. 

Do you know what I would do? 

I would save my pennies and nickels and dimes, 

And send them over the sea; 
That you might be fed and clothed and taught. 

To worship the God who is dear to me ; 
If you were I, and I were you. 
That is just what I would do. 

I would tell all the boys and girls around 
Just what I was working for, too; 

And I'd never give up till I got them to help 
To send you the Gospel true; 

If you were I-, and I were you. 

That is just what I would do. 



